2006 Volume 114 Issue 1329 Pages 377-379
The ceramic industry uses enormous amounts of energy to make products at high temperatures. Therefore energy-saving measures based on sintering process improvements are being examined. Barium titanate in the presence of a liquid phase was irradiated by two different methods during microwave sintering: an intermittent use of the same high power levels (time-control method) and a continuous use of lower, increasing levels of power (power-control method). As a result, it is concluded that the liquid phase is generated faster in the time-control method provided that the microwave irradiation is carried out at a temperature which is higher than the generation temperature of liquid phase. The liquid phase was generated at a wider temperature in the power-control method. It has been understood that the temperature control becomes difficult, though the time-control method is more efficient for energy efficiency.