Rapid Microwave Drying for Slip Cast Bodies

Abstract

Rapid microwave drying was examined in ZnO ceramic for slip cast bodies and the characteristics of such bodies were compared with those of cast bodies dried by conventional drying techniques. The extent of warpage of a dried body is smaller in microwave drying than in other conventional drying methods. Clearly, the homogeneous heating by microwave contributed to uniformities in the temperature and water content of a green body during drying. The relative density of sintered bodies reached about 98% and the microstructure was uniform for microwave drying. Furthermore, the number and size of pores are smaller for this drying technique than for other methods. Microwave heating has merits in terms of both the rapid drying and structural uniformity of dried bodies. It not only reduces drying period, but also improves the characteristics of a sintered body.