Microwave dielectric heating: applications on metals processing

Abstract

Microwave material processing is a novel energy efficient technology with improved mechanical properties, minimized defects and economical and environmental advantages making it a convenient application for various types of materials. Although, microwave interaction with matter has been largely investigated and published in food processing, ceramics and chemistry, no particular work has been involved in collecting the interactions of microwaves with metals and placing a special emphasis on their interaction with metals and metal-based formulations, and here resides the aim of the review: consolidating the fundamentals of microwave heating applications as a time and energy saving application and addressing its various applications and mechanisms with metal interactions seeking a more sustainable environment. This review reports the latest literature findings on microwave processing fundamentals and highlights the advanced technological improvement applied on metals in this field. It focuses on the relevant industrial applications related to the development of microwave technology on metals and its possible future processing in this specific scope of investigation.