Microwave enhanced reaction kinetics in ceramics

Numerous observations have been reported in the literature of enhanced mass transport and solid-state reaction rates during microwave heating or processing of a variety of ceramic, glass, and polymer materials. These empirical observations of microwave enhancements have been broadly called the "microwave effect". In the past, these claims have been the source of significant controversy, due in part to the lack of a credible and verifiable theoretical explanation. Moreover, certain notable microwave heating experiments have failed to observe any resolvable reaction or transport rate enhancements. This paper describes a series of recent experimental and numerical investigations that have established the fact that strong microwave electric fields induce a (previously unknown) nonlinear driving force for (ionic) mass transport near surfaces and structural interfaces (e.g., grain boundaries) in ceramic materials. This driving force can influence reaction kinetics by enhancing mass transport rates in heterogeneous solid-state reactions. Most of the previously reported observations regarding "microwave effects" (both for and against) are consistent with the characteristics of this newly identified microwave-induced driving force.