MICROWAVE
TECHNOLOGY

Unlike radiant heat, which is conducted from the outer surface of a sample to the interior, microwaves generate heat immediately within the body of the material. This combined approach produces faster processing rates than both radiant-only and microwave-only systems, which reduces energy usage, throughput times and emissions. More consistent properties can also be achieved in some materials, including greater strength, improved yield and reduced formation of undesirable phases. Processors can also take advantage of the selective heating characteristic of microwaves. The design of the furnaces combines the controllability of the radiant elements with the thermal equalising effect of the microwave heating system.

Successful applications for microwave-assisted heating include precious metals assaying, burning off wax castings moulds and sintering high-performance ceramics.

The use of microwave energy in industrial metal casting applications is a very promising one, as it can save the metal casting. Microwave furnaces can be used to cast various types of metals including steel, titanium, zirconium, copper, brass, bronze, aluminum and other sorts of metals and alloys. Microwave furnaces operation do not require any water cooling, can fit any specimen size; and can provide a controlled atmosphere for a cleaner casting process with no oxidization. Microwaves can be used efficiently for casting metals using  specially  designed  industrial microwave furnaces. Contact us and get to know Kepka Microwave Chamber Furnaces. Microwave technology is used in all types of services, industrial production, material processing or scientific research. The most popular are, among others: drying, elimination of wood pests, sterilization, heating of materials, support of chemical processes. Microwave Chamber Furnace Technology is beneficial for advanced material processing on commercial scale because of two main features: microwave processing’s energy is efficient and it is very fast. Microwave energy reduces the energy cost for thermal processing. Rapid heating’s result is singnificantly improved properties. Microwaves cause a rapid increase in temperature in most materials. The most important feature is that this is done as evenly as possible throughout the entire cross-section of the material. This effect is used in many devices for Thermal Processing.

Suitable for nanotechnology applications

  • Indigenously developed suseptor for reliable head generations
  • Imported insulation

  • continous monitoring through supervision system
  • high quality refectory materials
  • regenerative burners
  • system can be very precisely controlled
  • self-recuperative burners
  • speed and intensity of heating process
  • centralized heat recovery system

The microwave energy from the microwave generator is emitted by a special radiator (antenna) through a layer of thermal insulation to the interior of the high-temperature furnace. Ceramic plates which absorb microwaves and heated with microwaves to a preset temperature are usually placed inside the furnace. The thermal insulation placed in the furnace chamber is made of insulating material with special properties, it is transparent to microwaves (does not absorb microwaves). The temperature inside the furnace is controlled by a pyrometric sensor connected via a controller with a microwave generator with adjustable output power.

Construction of the furnace is shown in the diagram below:

Installation components:

Microwave Generator with a continuous wave magnetron (generation lamp), Microwave Radiator emitting (antenna) directs a stream of microwave energy into the chamber, Microwave Absorbing Insert usually made of silicon carbide (SiC) or graphite, Pyrometer for measuring the temperature inside the furnace, mounted on the wall of the furnace chamber and connected to the controller, Thermal Insulation made of ceramic material with a very low microwave absorption coefficient.

Parameters of the available microwave generators:
The output power in the range 3 – 10 kW (CW) frequency 2.45 GHz, or 10 – 100 kW (CW) frequency 915 MHz.