Method for heat treating and sintering metal oxides with microwave radiation

Patent · Tue Nov 14 00:00:00 EST 1989

OSTI ID:5542342

Holcombe, C E; Dykes, N L; Meek, T T

This patent describes a method for sintering together particulates of oxide material with microwave radiation. It comprises: enclosing a compact of the particulates in housing means formed of zirconia, hafnia or a combination thereof and characterized by coupling with microwave radiation at temperatures lower than the microwave radiation coupling temperature of the particulates forming the compact, subjecting the housing means to microwave radiation for heating the housing means and the compact enclosed therein by heat transference from the housing means to raise the compact to a temperature at least adequate to initiate coupling of the particulate material forming the compact with microwave radiation and for providing thermal insulation about the compact for retaining within the housing means heat given off by the compact during the coupling thereof with microwave radiation, and subjecting the housing means and the compact enclosed therein to the microwave radiation for a sufficient duration to heat the compact to a temperature adequate for the sintering the particulates forming the compact.

• Assignee: Martin Marietta Energy Systems, Inc., Oak Ridge, TN
• Patent Number(s): US 4880578; A
• Application Number: PPN: US 7-229892A; TRN: 91-020399
• OSTI ID: 5542342
• Resource Relation: Patent File Date: 8 Aug 1988
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
HAFNIUM OXIDES
HEAT TREATMENTS
SINTERING
ZIRCONIUM OXIDES
METALS
MICROWAVE RADIATION
THERMAL INSULATION
CHALCOGENIDES
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELEMENTS
FABRICATION
HAFNIUM COMPOUNDS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
RADIATIONS
REFRACTORY METAL COMPOUNDS
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS
ZIRCONIUM COMPOUNDS
360101* - Metals & Alloys- Preparation & Fabrication