Microwave–material interaction phenomena: Heating mechanisms, challenges and opportunities in material processing

• Published in: Composites. Part A, Applied science and manufacturing Vol. 81; pp. 78 - 97
• Main Authors: Mishra, Radha Raman, Sharma, Apurbba Kumar
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.02.2016
• Subjects: A. Metal-matrix composites (MMCs); A. Polymer-matrix composites (PMCs); absorption; ceramics; composite materials; electric field; energy; heat transfer; Heating mechanisms; magnetic fields; metals; Microwave processing; microwave radiation; polymers; Heating mechanisms; A. Polymer-matrix composites (PMCs); Microwave processing; A. Metal-matrix composites (MMCs)
• ISSN: 1359-835X; 1878-5840
• DOI: 10.1016/j.compositesa.2015.10.035

Efforts to use microwaves in material processing are gradually increasing. However, the phenomena associated with the processing are less understood; popular mechanisms such as dipolar heating and conduction heating have been mostly explored. The current paper reviews most of the significant phenomena that cause heating during microwave–material interaction and heat transfer during microwave energy absorption in materials. Mechanisms involved during interaction of microwave with characteristically different materials – metals, non-metals and composites (metal matrix composites, ceramic matrix composites and polymer matrix composites) have been discussed using suitable illustrations. It was observed that while microwave heating of metal based materials is due to the magnetic field based loss effects, dipolar loss and conduction loss are the phenomena associated with the electric field effects in microwave heating of non-metals. Challenges in processing of advanced materials, particularly composites have been identified from the available literature; further research directions with possible benefits have been highlighted.