MICROWAVE-ASSISTED PROCESSING OF MATERIALS

摘要

There is provided a method of operating a microwave furnace (10) of the type comprising a microwave source (14), an enclosure for the confinement of microwaves and for containing an object to be heated (12), means (16) for coupling the microwave source (14) to the enclosure (12) and independently controllable radiant heating means (20) disposed in relation to the enclosure (12) to provide radiant heat within the enclosure, the method comprising the steps of energising the radiant heating means (20) so as to generate radiant heat substantially throughout the heating cycle of the furnace (10) and controlling the quantity of heat generated in the object by one or both of the microwaves and the radiant heat so as to provide a desired thermal profile in the object. There is also provided a microwave furnace (10) comprising a microwave source (14), an enclosure for the confinement of microwaves and for containing an object to be heated (12), means (16) for coupling the microwave source (14) to the enclosure (12), independently controllable radiant heating means (20) disposed in relation to the enclosure (12) to provide radiant heat within the enclosure, temperature sensor means to measure the ambient temperature within the enclosure (12) and control means (54) responsive to the temperature measurement to control the quantity of heat generated in the object by one or both of the microwaves and the radiant heat so as to provide a desired thermal profile within the object.