Microwave heating represents a modern technique to sintering the composites materials. The microwaves absorbance property of the materials is depending by the electrical permittivity of the materials. Researchers showed that the ceramic materials are suitable for sintering using microwave heating. The most important advantage of that sintering procedure is the reduced sintering time and temperatures. However, during the heating process these properties are changing and a pattern of the heating process cannot be established. The penetration depth of microwaves into materials depends on the electrical properties of them, and gives rise to a heat source. The electromagnetic wave absorption is responsible for the macro and micro structural changes in the materials morphology, and consequently for their electrical properties. Thermal runaway is one phenomenon which should be avoided during the microwave processing of the materials. The microwave heating consists in direct introduction of the energy in the volume of the material. If the absorbance properties of the material are increasing with temperature, than a critical phenomenon, called thermal runaway, appears during the heating process. This paper aims to study the thermal runaway of the BaCO₃ + Fe₂O₃ homogenous mixture and mechanical alloy in a mono-mode applicator, when the heat source is a microwave generator at 2,45 Ghz. A special mono-mode chamber has been designed with dimensions 140 x 140 x 70 mm and an active system for rotating the samples, in order to record the values of the temperature and to assure a uniform exposure of the samples to the high frequency electromagnetic field. The materials used in experiments were homogenous mixture of BaCO₃ + Fe₂O₃ which have been milled in a planetary ball mill for 5 and 20 hours. The experimental procedure consists in establishing the levels of the temperatures during the microwave heating process when the thermal runaway appears. These experiments have been done for fixed levels of microwave injected power from 0 1250 W. Numerical simulation for different heating conditions (microwave power, heating time, position of the samples inside the chamber) has been performed in order to elaborate a predictable mathematical model for continuous microwave heating and avoiding the thermal runaway of the homogenous mixture.

The solid waste of Rapana thomasiana seashells both from domestic activities and natural waste on seashore can be used to obtain viable products for medical applications. However, conventional technologies applied for sintering the materials require massive energy consumption due to the resistance heating. Microwave heating represents an advanced technology for sintering, but the stability of the process, in terms of thermal runaway and microwave plasma arc discharge, jeopardizes the quality of the sintered products. This paper aims to present the results of research focused on viable heating technology and the mechanical properties of the final products. A comparative analysis, in terms of energy efficiency vs. mechanical properties, has been performed for three different heating technologies: direct microwave heating, hybrid microwave heating and resistance heating. The results obtained concluded that the hybrid microwave heating led to final products from Rapana thomasiana solid waste with similar mechanical properties compared with resistance heating. In terms of energy efficiency, the hybrid microwave heating was 20 times better than resistance heating.

During the microwave sintering of a polymer-ceramic composite plasma discharge is experienced. The discharge could occur failure of the power source. The solution proposed by the paper is original, no similar solutions being presented by the literature. It consists of using a polymer-ceramic composite protective panel, to stop the plasma discharge to the entrance of the guiding tunnel. Six composites resulted by combining three polymers, Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), STRATITEX composite and Polyvinylchloride (PVC) with two natural ceramics containing calcium carbonate: Rapana Thomasiana (RT) sea-shells and beach sand were used to build the protective panel.Theoretical balance of the power to the panel was analysed and the thermal field was determined. It was applied heating using 0.6-1.2-1.8-2.4-3.0 kW microwave beam power. The panels were subjected to heating with and without material to be sintered. It was analyzed: RT chemical (CaCO₃ as Calcite and Aragonite), burned area (range: 200–4000 mm²) and penetration (range: 1.6–5.5 mm), and thermal analysis of the burned areas comparing to the original data. PTFE-RT composite proved the lowest penetration to 0.6 and 1.2 kW. Other 1.2 kW all composites experienced vital failures. Transformation of the polymer matrix of composite consisted of slightly decreasing of the phase shifting temperature and of slightly increasing of the melting start and liquidus temperature.

This paper aims to present some specific aspects regarding the heat affected zone in microwave polymer welding. It presents several results of investigation of the physical and mechanical modification of the HDPE100 polymer when the microwave heating is applied. Burst stress, elongation and relaxation modulus are subject of this research, as well as the information regarding the crystallization rate and elongation viscosity. To reveal the type of the structure and its transformation, Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) was used. The recorded values for rate of crystallization are appropriate for the welding process, but it has negative effect when plastic deformation at high temperature (as in the extrusion process) is applied. The microwave heating produced a 12-20% decreasing of the plasticity with the increasing of the amount of heat introduced into the material (from 65 W power and 10 s heating to 130 W and 40 s). After the microwave heating, the material showed low values for the elongation viscosity, which means not very fluid material and a necessity to apply high temperatures during the processing by welding or plastic deformation.