Advances in powder metallurgy: 12. Microwave sintering of metal powders (Woodhead Publishing Series in Metals and Surface Engineering)

This chapter deals with an overview and current status of the application of microwave energy to the processing of metallic materials for various applications including steel making. The chapter especially focuses on the sintering aspect of some important selected metal powders. Microwave energy has emerged as the most versatile form of energy applicable to numerous diverse fields: communication, chemistry, rubber vulcanization, drying, food processing, medical treatment and diagnosis, and a variety of materials processing fields. The latest application of microwave energy has been to the sintering of metallic powders very effectively. In the last few years many researchers have reported sintering, melting, joining and brazing of metallic materials.