The Microwave Sintering of Ceramics: New Insights, Models,
and Applications Based on Realistic Ceramic Microstructures

J. P. Calame, Y. Carmel, D. Gershon, and E. Pert
Institute for Plasma Research
University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742

Invited Talk, 22nd International Workshop on Infrared and Millimeter Waves
Wintergreen, Virginia, July 20-25, 1997

ABSTRACT. The distribution and intensity of electric fields within a ceramic undergoing microwave sintering are computed using finite difference electromagnetic modeling of realistic ceramic microstructures. The fields in the air-filled pores adjacent to interparticle contact zones are found to be 10-60 times higher than the applied fields by virtue of focusing effects within the microstructure. The high fields are postulated to be capable of creating discharge phenomena within the pores, which could cause enhanced sintering by altering the material defect chemistry.