Application of microwave heating to reaction between soda-lime glass and liquid al for fabrication of composite materials

Microwave (MW) heating is applied to fabrication of composite materials using a reaction between soda-lime (S-L) glass and liquid Al. Because of insufficient heating capability of Al powder in the present conditions of MW power, Fe powder was mixed for the better heating to melt Al. In fabrication of the composites, mixture of S-L glass beads and Al-Fe powder was MW-heated at 700°C for 10 min. It was observed that not only the liquid Al reacted with S-L glass, but also melting of S-L glass beads and their connection occurred. It was confirmed that Fe particles were not reacted with the glasses and that Al-Fe intermetallic compound was not virtually formed. Namely, it was shown that Fe particles took a major role of the heating agent. There were reaction layer formed between S-L glass and Al having thickness of about 50 microns. The heated mixture was consolidated as a composite body.