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Temperature Measurements during Microwave Processing: The Significance of Thermocouple Effects
Author(s) -
Pert Evan,
Carmel Yuval,
Birnboim Amikam,
Olorunyolemi Tayo,
Gershon David,
Calame Jeff,
Lloyd Isabel K.,
Wilson Otto C.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
journal of the american ceramic society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.9
H-Index - 196
eISSN - 1551-2916
pISSN - 0002-7820
DOI - 10.1111/j.1151-2916.2001.tb00946.x
Subject(s) - thermocouple , microwave , ceramic , materials science , temperature measurement , thermal , microwave heating , composite material , engineering , thermodynamics , telecommunications , physics
Reliable and accurate temperature measurement during microwave processing of ceramic bodies is controversial. Although thermocouples are routinely used in conventional thermal furnaces, their presence in microwave furnaces can locally distort the electromagnetic field, conduct heat away from the sample, induce thermal instabilities and microwave breakdown, and lead to serious measurement errors. These thermocouple effects have been studied and found to be more pronounced in low‐ and medium‐loss ceramic materials. To decrease the thermocouple effects during the processing of advanced ceramic materials, an optical, noncontact temperature sensing system has been developed, calibrated, and incorporated into a computer‐controlled microwave furnace.