Our interdisciplinary group (physicists, material scientists, chemists, and electrical engineers) conducts experimental and theoretical studies on microwave processing of ceramic materials. We have set out to understand some fundamental questions and manufacture materials with superior properties of interest to the commercial and defense industries. Microwave processing is a promising but complex process involving the absorption of electromagnetic energy, heat transport within the material, and densification.
The processing of ceramic materials with microwave energy offers significant advantages over conventional thermal techniques. The direct, volumetric nature of microwave heating enables very high heating rates (150 to perhaps 1000oC). Such extraordinary heating rates can be used to limit grain growth and produce materials with superior or tailored properties.