Microwave Heating Principles, Mechanisms, and Applications: Towards Sustainable Materials Processing

In the past two decades, microwaves have emerged as an energy-efficient tool in the processing of a wide range of materials including but not limited to casting, cladding, drilling, joining, melting, and sintering. Microwave processing is much more energy efficient than the conventional materials processing techniques, as reported, microwave technology can help in reducing the energy consumption by 80% during sintering. Although the microwave heating has numerous advantages over other conventional materials processing techniques, however, the actual industrialization of microwave materials processing needs to be explored further. Therefore, to facilitate the industrial adoption of microwave processing, this book chapter aims to introduce emerging researchers and industry professionals to the innovative concepts and benefits of microwave heating. It provides an in-depth elaboration of the heating mechanisms involved, accompanied by a comprehensive analysis of the material properties of various categorical materials, highlighting key factors influencing their thermal performance. Further, the chapter expounds on the critical role of hybrid heating in the processing of metallic materials using microwaves. By leveraging the extensive knowledge of microwave hybrid heating, the numerous benefits of this technology are elucidated through real-world engineering applications across different materials. Correspondingly, the challenges and limitations within this rapidly evolving field are detailed, offering valuable insights and potential directions for future research, development, and sustainable technological advancements.