Microwave processing of materials and related phenomena

Microwave heating is widely utilized not only in domestic microwave ovens for cooking and heating foods, but also for many other applications in different industrial fields. For example, in the field of organic chemistry, microwave irradiation for promoting organic reactions has been investigated. The author has conducted experimental and simulation studies on the microwave processing of metals and/or ceramic materials, which generally requires much higher heating temperature than applications in organic chemistry. The present article introduces selected studies on material processing and reactions, in which solid state materials are involved. The processes are carbothermic reduction of metal oxides, fabrication of ceramic/metal composite materials and controlling of self-propagating high temperature synthesis (SHS) reactions. Some specific phenomena occurring in these processes and characteristics and effects on the processes are also discussed.