FDTD simulation of microwave sintering in multimode cavities

An FDTD (finite-difference time-domain) code was developed to simulate realistic microwave sintering experiments in multimode microwave cavities. Results showing the effect of various geometrical and physical parameters on the microwave sintering process are presented. After an extensive number of simulation runs, observations were made and guidelines were developed towards optimization of the sintering process. One of the more successful microwave sintering experiments involves the use of SiC rods in a picket-fence arrangement to help stimulate the microwave heating process, particularly at lower temperatures. In some sintering experiments the arrangement of these SiC rods is critical to the success of the experiment. The developed FDTD code was used to examine various aspects of the use of SiC rods to stimulate sintering of ceramics samples.<>