The microwave processing of polymeric materials

✍ Scribed by M. T. De Meuse; C. L. Ryan

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1993
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 619 KB
• Volume: 12
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0730-6679
• DOI: 10.1002/adv.1993.060120207

✦ Synopsis

An overview is presented of the currently studied microwave-assisted chemical and physical processes, as they pertain to polymers. Furthermore, the features which affect the microwave heating of polymers are described. Finally, some of the factors which have limited more widespread acceptance of microwave processing of polymeric materials are highlighted. Wiley & Sons, Inc. = 0 1993 John icrowave ovens are a feature of many M households in the United States today.

However, it is not well known that microwaves have other uses outside of the home. For example, in the industrial world, the use of microwave energy has been applied to several areas including bulk food processing, drying and curing of paper and wood products, the vulcanization of rubber, and the drying of thermoplastics prior to extrusion. In each of these areas, microwave processing offers the ability to quickly and controllably absorb energy either to cook, to dehydrate, or to cure. However, microwave energy has the potential for far more sophisticated processing and fabrication of polymers including reactive molding, low shear extrusion, and composites processing.

Microwaves offer several potential advantages over other heating methods: ' Fast heating rates, particularly above the glass transition temperature.