Investigation of microwave heating with time varying material properties

Processing of materials at microwave frequencies is made difficult by physi cal properties that change significantly with temperature. A microwave heat ing model with material properties that change slowly with time and tempera ture has been developed. A frequency domain finite element solution of the electric field is coupled to time domain finite element diffusion equation to study the evolution of temperature profiles. The temperature change is d etermined from the balance of power dissipation, thermal diffusion, and the rmal convection.