Fundamentals and applications of microwave energy in rock and concrete processing - A review

Microwave heating is a green, efficient and sustainable technique for thermal process, which has been evaluated as an ideal candidate to satisfy the present and future sustainable technique requirement. This paper offers a comprehensive and systematic review of microwave heating assisted breaking of rock and concrete, with results of previous studies summarized, covering such areas as heating principle of microwave heating, materials response to microwave, the influence factors relating to microwave heating assisted breakage and also, the mechanism and advantage of heating processing. The status of practical application and future development trend of microwave assisted tunnelling, rock drilling and concrete aggregated recycling are analyzed. The difficulties involved in research and efforts should be made regarding the potential and opportunities of the future development of microwave technique for industry are also discussed.