When Should Microwaves Be Used to Process Technical Ceramics?

Abstract

This paper attempts to shed light on why the stand alone microwave processing of technical ceramics, despite being one of the most popular field with respect to volume of research performed, is still struggling to achieve priority status with respect to commercialisation. To obtain some answers to this enigma and determine when microwaves should be used to process technical ceramics, three case studies are explored. The conclusion is that microwaves should be used to process technical ceramics when specific advantage can be taken of the intrinsic nature of microwave energy and not simply as an alternative energy source. In addition, it is concluded that from a commercialisation view point hybrid processing is often a better approach than the use of pure microwaves.