CALCULATION OF TEMPERATURES IN MICROWAVE-HEATED 2-DIMENSIONAL CERAMICBODIES

Temperatures are calculated in a ceramic material exposed to microwave s. The method entails calculation of electromagnetic fields by integra l formulation and subsequent solution of the heat conduction equation for temperatures in a ceramic piece. The solution of the equations is numerical and the parameters used are estimates for properties of SiC. The results include a case where the complex dielectric constant is v aried with temperature. The computed results demonstrate that SiC can be heated to high temperatures (1000-1500 K) and that both the tempera ture and the temperature gradient can be controlled by varying the pow er density of the microwaves and the external cooling. The results als o exhibit high sensitivity of temperatures to the dimensions of the ma terial and the orientation in which microwaves impinge on the ceramic body.