Microwave processing of materials. Final report

Technical Report · Sat Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1997

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/543671· OSTI ID:543671

McMillan, A D; Lauf, R J; Garard, R S

A Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) between Lockheed Martin Energy Systems, Inc. (LMES) and Lambda Technologies, Inc. (Lambda) of Raleigh, N.C., was initiated in May 1995. [Lockheed Martin Energy Research, Corp. (LMER) has replaced LMES]. The completion data for the Agreement was December 31, 1996. The purpose of this work is to explore the feasibility of several advanced microwave processing concepts to develop new energy-efficient materials and processes. The project includes two tasks: (1) commercialization of the variable-frequency microwave furnace (VFMF); and (2) microwave curing of polymer composites. The VFMF, whose initial conception and design was funded by the Advanced Industrial Concepts (AIC) Materials Program, will allow us, for the first time, to conduct microwave processing studies over a wide frequency range. This novel design uses a high-power traveling wave tube (TWT) originally developed for electronic warfare. By using this microwave source, one can not only select individual microwave frequencies for particular experiments, but also achieve uniform power densities over a large area by the superposition of many different frequencies.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-96OR22464
• OSTI ID: 543671
• Report Number(s): ORNL/M--5941; ON: DE98000895; CRN: C/ORNL--95-0359
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
CURING
MICROWAVE EQUIPMENT
MICROWAVE HEATING
POLYMERS
PROCESSING