Fundamentals in Microwave Processing of Materials

This book aims to comprehensively describe the mechanisms of microwave energy loss through the separate interactions of microwave electric (E) and magnetic (H) fields with materials. In addition, the non-thermal effects in microwave heating are discussed, exploring both thermal phenomena specific to microwaves and non-thermal effects explained by electromagnetic factors, and other mechanisms are introduced. Recently remarked topics of metamaterials (double negative materials) and artificial dielectrics are described as applications of microwave interaction mechanisms of metal/ceramic composites.

This book particularly emphasizes new viewpoints of microwave heating of metals, such as the heating mechanisms of metal particles and their size dependence, in relation to the dielectric properties of metals at microwave frequencies, a transition or an ambiguity of some inorganic materials from dielectric to conductive heating, specific phenomena in microwave heating of composite materials consisting of metal and inorganics, and microwave losses originating from ferromagnetism and magnetoelastic interactions.

The recently reported experimental data are introduced and reviewed, providing thorough understanding based on the fundamentals discussed in earlier chapters.