Experimental proof of major role of magnetic field losses in microwave heating of metal and metallic composites

The microwave heating behavior of various materials in different microwave fields was investigated. A 2.45 GHz, 1.2 kW microwave generator with power monitor was used as a microwave source. The temperature of the metal sample was measured using an infrared pyrometer. The oxidation of metal samples at high temperature was avoided by pasing nitrogen gas through the quartz tube. The tungsten carbide-cobalt (WC-Co) sample can be efficiently heated up in the magnetic field and alumina-powdered composite sample can be heated up both in electric and magnetic fields, but the heating effect was faster in the magnetic fiels.