Sintering of metal fibre reinforced glass matrix composites using microwave radiation

The application of microwave radiation to sinter a chopped metal fibre reinforced glass matrix composite without the use of a susceptor material to preheat the powder compact has been demonstrated. The system considered was a soda borosilicate glass powder requiring a relatively low sintering temperature, mixed with 2 or 10 vol.-% Hastelloy X fibres. Single mode microwave heating was performed using radiation of 2·45 GHz in an applicator operating in the TE103 mode. Samples could be sintered in less than 5 min. Samples heated in the maximum of the electric field showed increased pore shrinkage in comparison with samples sintered in the maximum of the magnetic field. The present work demonstrates that metallic additions may be used to eliminate the requirement of a susceptor material (usually SiC) to heat powder glass samples in a short time to a temperature at which it would be able to couple with the microwaves in order for sintering to occur.