Effect of Green Microstructure and Processing Variables on the Microwave Sintering of Alumina

Abstract

ABSTRACTThe concept of 'hybrid heating with microwave (MW) energy at 2.45 GHZ.'for ultra rapid sintering of alumina is being introduced. This technique is a combination of MW - materual interaction as well as conventional radiant/conduction mechanisms, and facilitates the attainment of perhaps, the highest possible heating rates in a multimode MW cavity at 2.45 GJZz. (1500ºC in 120 sees.). Rapid sintering of pure.undoped alumina with this novel techniQue culminates in uniform, homogeneous microstructures and mechanical property enhancements vis-a-vis conventional fast firing.The role of green microstructure (particle size) on MW(hybrid) heating and processing variables (temperature, time) on the MW (hybrid) heating phenomena vs. conventional fast firing were investigated. Hybrid heated samples showed accelerated densification with comparable grain sizes when compared with the conventionally fast fired samples. The effectof particle size on the microwave (hybrid) heating phenomena was found to be analogous to conventional sintering.