Densification kinetics of powdered copper under single-mode and multimode microwave sintering

This work represents an investigation concerning densification kinetics during microwave sintering of copper powder using single-mode and multimode applicators operating at 2.45 GHz. Analysis of densification kinetics was made using densification parameter. Heating stage for sintering using single-mode applicator was found to be of great importance. While both processes have the same nature of heating, sintering kinetics in single-mode applicator were shown to be faster comparing to those for multimode ones. Partial melting of matter during sintering in single-mode applicator may be considered as an explanation.