Latest global developments in microwave materials processing

Application of microwave energy for materials processing is emerging as a novel and innovative technology with many advantages over conventional processing, such as reduction in processing cycle time resulting into substantial energy and cost savings, providing finer microstructures leading to improved mechanical properties, and eco friendliness. The microwave energy is highly versatile in its application to numerous diverse fields such as communication, chemical reactions, rubber vulcanisation, drying, food processing and medical related fields. However, its application in ceramic processing and metallic materials has developed only in the last two decades. Most recent potential applications involve steel making, used tires recycling and alternative sources for energy recovery (oil shale and capped oil wells). Many specialty ceramics, composites, and metal powders have been successfully processed in microwave with improved properties. The selective heating feature of microwaves has led to effective brazing and joining of metal parts. Even bulk metals can be heated and melted in microwave field and the melt can be cast into useful products. The most recent development of microwave research is the use of separation of E and H fields at 2•45 GHz in materials processing that has produced dramatic enhancements in reaction kinetics and phase transformations.