In their experiments, the materials scientists are microwaving a wide range of powder metals - to produce machine components with improved properties. Microwaves already have been used to process materials ranging from wood and rubber to ceramics and semiconductors. We've had success with full sintering of commercially available powdered metals using a 2.45 gigahertz microwave field to produce dense products with better mechanical properties than those obtained by conventional heating. These results are surprising in view of the reflectivity of bulk metals at microwave frequencies. The experiments indicate microwave sintering of metals could prove handy in the processing of high-performance metal parts in the automotive and other industries, said Rustum Roy, Evan Pugh Professor Emeritus of Solid State at Penn State.
Powder metals do absorb microwave radiation and can be heated and sintered, using microwaves.
The result is a solid, dense material, said Jiping Cheng, post-doctoral research associate at Penn State. Our findings indicate virtually any powder-metal green body can be sintered in 10 to 30 minutes in an appropriate microwave sintering apparatus. Commercialization of continuous processing equipment for microwave sintering is currently under way. K Fl gstad . Visit the Sales and advertising .for advertisement information.