TRAY ASSEMBLIES AND METHODS FOR MANUFACTURING CERAMIC ARTICLES

摘要

Tray assemblies and methods for manufacturing ceramic articles are provided. In one embodiment, a tray assembly (120) includes a tray body (122) having a supporting surface (129) operable to support a ceramic article (112) for passage through a microwave drying apparatus (132) during a microwave drying process and a microwave coupling cover (124) associated with the tray body (128). The microwave coupling cover (124) envelopes at least a portion of the ceramic article (112) during the microwave drying process. The microwave coupling cover (124) has a dielectric property such that a greater percentage of microwave energy is coupled into the ceramic article (112) with the microwave coupling cover (124) present during the microwave drying process than with the microwave coupling cover (124) not present. Methods may include rotating the ceramic article when the ceramic article is about 40%- 60 dry.