Millimeter and submillimeter wave sintering of ceramics

The effect characteristic of high frequency and strong electric field processing was observed. One of interest effects is so called non-thermal effect or microwave effect. In order to widely study the non-thermal effect of ceramics sintering. We developed a material processing system by using a 300 GHz gyrotron. This system consists of a 300 GHz, 3.5 kW, CW gyrotron ( Gyrotron FU CW I) with a cryogen-free 12 T superconducting magnet, a corrugated circular waveguide and applicator. Boron carbide is one of advanced materials and is being used in a wide rage of applications. 24 GHz microwave processing for boron carbide ceramics were performed. Enhanced sintering (non-thermal effect) was observed.