Review of Microwave Assisted Manufacturing Technologies

This paper reviews recent advancement of microwave (MW) assisted manufacturing technologies. Because MW energy interacts with materials in unique ways, MW assisted manufacturing technologies have the potential to develop entirely new or enhanced manufactured products and materials as well as new approaches for producing such materials. There have been various fields MW technologies have been applied: material processing of ceramics, polymers, metals, carbon nanotubes and composites; machining; synthesis of organic and inorganic compounds; waste remediation and environmental applications; solvent extraction from foods and bioproducts. This review introduces some fundamental knowledge of MW and current status of MW applications focusing on manufacturing technologies. Also, some suggestions for future research are addressed.