Microwave (Hybrid) Heating of Alumina at 2.45 GHZ: I. Microstructural Uniformity and Homogeneity

Abstract

Microwave (hybrid) heating (MHH) is a unique combination of microwave (MW)material interaction and conventional radiant/conduction mechanisms that facilitates the attainment of very high heating rates in a 2.45 GHz, multimode MW cavity. Microstructural uniformity and homogeneity of dry-pressed green samples of pure, undoped alumina with (MHH relative to conventional fast firing (CFF) has been studied. The confluence of the two heating mechanisms (with MHH) results in an improved parity in temperatures across specimen cross-sections vis-a-vis CFF and stand-alone MW (SMW) sintering. This enhanced parity in temperatures (with MHH) can be said to be responsible for the better microstructural homogeneity and improved mechanical properties relative to CFF. Sintering of larger (20 gm vs. 6 gm) samples with MHH shows evidence of a definitive mass dependence on the MHH phenomena. Larger masses show a better parity in temperatures between the surface and interior of the sample. Consequently, this results in enhancements in the homogeneity of the microstructure, and improved and more uniform mechanical properties relative to the smaller MHH and CFF samples.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Apr 27, 1992
Accession Number
ADP007744

Entities

People

  • Arindam De
  • David E. Clark
  • E. D. Whitney
  • Iftikhar Ahmad

Organizations

  • University of Florida

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Ceramic Materials
  • Ceramic Matrix Composites
  • Critical Temperature
  • Engineering
  • Fabrication
  • Grain Growth
  • Grain Size
  • Homogeneity
  • Materials
  • Materials Engineering
  • Materials Processing
  • Materials Science
  • Mechanical Properties
  • Mechanical Working
  • Technical Ceramics
  • Temperature Gradients
  • Toughness

Fields of Study

  • Materials science

Readers

  • Astronomy/Astrophysics
  • Powder metallurgy of Titanium alloys.