Sintering behavior of alumina by microwave hybrid sintering

Microwave sintering is considered an ideal sintering process due to its rapid heating rate, low energy consumption, and uniform temperature distribution between the interior and surface. However, the difficulty of using a dilatometer and the lack of systematic research have hindered the investigation of activation energy and grain growth kinetics during microwave sintering. In this study, we examined the internal heating mechanism of microwave hybrid sintering, its sintering behavior, and its applicability to commercial processes such as tape casting. The results demonstrated that microwave hybrid sintering reduces the activation energy for both shrinkage and grain growth, confirming the presence of the "microwave effect." This study underscores the potential of microwave hybrid sintering for commercial applications, especially for large ceramic components.