Microwave sintering technique was successfully applied for densifying (Ni1-
x-yZnxCuy) Fe2O4. ferrite materials and multilayer chip (MC) inductors. Thi
s technique needs only 20 min at 850 degrees C to obtain high-density mater
ials ( > 95% TD) and high impedance MC-inductors (23.9 Omega). Moreover, ch
aracteristics of the ferrite materials and MC-inductors are less sensitive
to the processing parameters, as compared with those prepared by the conven
tional sintering technique. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reser
ved.