Microwave Processing & Remediation

The beneficial use of microwaves for cooking food is well known. The same principle is increasingly being applied in the use of microwaves for processing wide variety of materials including polymers, composites, rubber, ceramics, chemicals, minerals, wastes, etc., The interest in microwave heating arises from its several key characteristics that are not available with conventional electrical and gas fired heating routes. Some of the main features and its associated benefits of Microwave processing technology are:

1. Rapid heating Þ Significant process cycle time savings
2. Precise control Þ improved product quality
3. Volumetric heating (gets heated all the way through at the same time) Þ Energy savings
4. Selective heating Þ synthesis of new materials, waste remediation
5. Lower carbon dioxide emission Þ greener process

However, the use of microwaves for processing materials is not straightforward and requires good understanding of microwave-material interaction behaviour. This is because microwave heating is selective in that materials differ in their response to microwave heating and not all materials absorb microwaves. The power absorbed depends on various parameters as shown below

                        P = w e tan d E²

Where P-Power absorbed; w-frequency; e-dielectric constant of the material, tan d - dielectric loss of the material; E-Electric field strength generated.

Microwave processing thus poses challenges and requires undertaking of research for each application.

To explore and exploit the beneficial use of microwaves, SEAM procured a 1m³ cavity microwave furnace to help investigate the processing behaviour polymer and polymer composites, wood composites, chemicals, etc. In addition, the microwave facility will also be utilised for studies pertaining to waste remediation applications.

Our Equipment

Our dedicated Microwave processing laboratory operates a ‘’state of the art’’ Vötsch Hephaistos VHM 100 high power fixed frequency microwave capable of a maximum temperature of 400°C.

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