Microwave Processing of Metallic Materials

Abstract

The author has performed experimental studies on microwave heating of metallic materials for these twenty years. In this report∗it is intended to review the researches and discuss the future prospects on this subject∗from the following three points of view: 1. Separated E(Electric)/H(magnetic) field heating in a single mode cavity contributed to understanding of the microwave heating mechanisms of various materials. It was demonstrated that heating behavior of metal film depends on the substrate normal direction with respect to the microwave oscillating magnetic field. 2. In heating of metal/ceramic composite materials∗its effective permittivity values have to be determined. In relation with occurrence of conductivity percolation∗some measurement data are presented exhibiting negative permittivity (real part)∗and possible interpretation of the composites' permittivity was discussed. 3. In microwave processing of materials "non-thermal effect" has been proposed∗so far. In this report∗the non-thermal effect observed in annealing the Au thin film will be presented. And possible effect of magnetic resonance heating is proposed.