Temperature Measurements during Microwave Processing: The Significance of Thermocouple Effects |
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Authors: | Evan Pert Yuval Carmel Amikam Birnboim Tayo Olorunyolemi David Gershon Jeff Calame Isabel K. Lloyd Otto C. Wilson |
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Affiliation: | Institute for Plasma Research, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742;and Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, D.C. 20375 |
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Abstract: | Reliable and accurate temperature measurement during microwave processing of ceramic bodies is controversial. Although thermocouples are routinely used in conventional thermal furnaces, their presence in microwave furnaces can locally distort the electromagnetic field, conduct heat away from the sample, induce thermal instabilities and microwave breakdown, and lead to serious measurement errors. These thermocouple effects have been studied and found to be more pronounced in low- and medium-loss ceramic materials. To decrease the thermocouple effects during the processing of advanced ceramic materials, an optical, noncontact temperature sensing system has been developed, calibrated, and incorporated into a computer-controlled microwave furnace. |
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Keywords: | microwaves temperature measurement |
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