Microwave processing of ceramic materials

Ceramic processing involving microwave energy dissipative interaction is a relatively new and exciting technological development. It has been used successfully to sinter a wide variety of oxide and non oxide ceramics, composites and glasses. Beneficial effects in powder synthesis, sol-gel processing and ceramic joining have been demonstrated. Studies have shown the effect being material specific and a considerable enhancement in mass transport processes has been observed under the action of such high frequency electromagnetic fields. Specific benefits are derived in this technique due to the volumetric heating effect and the shorter processing times involved. (author)