Materials processed by indirect microwave heating in a single-mode cavity

We report in this paper the synthesis, the sintering and the properties of La0.8Sr0.2MnO3 (LSMO) and BaZrO3 (BZ) compound using microwave heating. The starting raw material was prepared by solid state reaction. Synthesis and sintering were carried out using an indirect microwave heating process. SiC susceptor tube was utilized to produce the indirect heating in a microwave symmetrical single mode cavity TE10p. The LSMO and BZ phases have been successfully sintered in a microwave cavity in a very short time. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), magnetic or dielectric and electrical properties were carried out for both processing conditions, i.e., using classical and microwave heating. The results and advantages of this microwave process to synthesize many materials with various physicals properties are discussed. (C) 2005 Published by Elsevier Ltd and Techna Group S.r.l.