Date: Jan 26, 2013 Source: Company Data (
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(In Collaboration with NRL and Penn State MRL)
Advanced materials processing technologies using microwaves offer several advantages over conventional methods. The frequency most commonly investigated has been the conventional 2.45 GHz, and efforts are underway to use these microwaves for numerous materials processing applications. With the realization of the frequency dependence of microwave-material interaction characteristics, other processing approaches employing different frequencies have assumed greater importance. For larger bulk processing, 0.915 GHz has been found to have certain advantages over 2.45 GHz. For technologies involving extremely fast heating and surface processing, however, higher frequencies offer unique advantages. To exploit this, design and construction of a novel high-frequency (83 GHz) gyrotron materials processing facility is necessary. This is a complex task, which CRS Inc. has now successfully carried out in collaboration with the Naval Research Laboratory in Washington.
The novel 83-GHz microwave beam produced by a gyrotron, with quasi-optical beam characteristics, offers unique advantages in materials processing over conventional 2.45 GHz microwaves. Higher frequencies have different material interaction characteristics, which could be exploited for unique materials processing advantages--such as extremely fast and selective heating with controllable heating depth, which could yield superior grain dimension and properties in the processed product.
A novel material processing facility using the high power mm wave has been developed under a SBIR program by the Center For Remote Sensing, Inc. (CRS) and the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL). A gyrotron produces a high power mm-wave beam (15 kW, 83 GHz) and the beam parameters as well as its interaction with various materials can be precisely controlled.
The material processing facility is designed to undertake various R & D activities related with the gyrotron microwave (mm) interaction with materials, development of new materials and processes. The Materials Research Laboratory of the Pennsylvania State University is one of the leading institutes in materials and microwave processing techniques. Current research projects at the CRS/NRL facility are being conducted in close collaboration with the Materials Research Laboratory of the Pennsylvania State University.
The new CRS/NRL 83-GHz gyrotron processing facility, together with the 0.915-GHz and various 2.45-GHz microwave processing facilities of the Penn State MRL microwave processing group, with whom CRS Inc. collaborates, offer unique opportunities for developing novel advanced materials processing technologies employing microwaves of various frequencies--0.915, 2.45, and 83 GHz. There are numerous applications for a multi-frequency microwave processing facility. Some of the potential applications include coating of materials, soldering and brazing, treatment of polymers, semiconductor processing and ceramic processing. We are currently evaluating the effectiveness of different frequencies for various processes.
The facility will be made available to various commercial and Government users for test and development of new techniques and processes. For details click here.
The new 83-GHz gyrotron facility is located at the Naval Research Laboratory (Washington, D.C., Building 256) and the NRL scientist in charge is Dr. Arne Fliflet (code 6793, Phone: 202-767-2469). For commercial use of this facility please contact: Dr. Suman Ganguly or Dr. Kuruvilla Cherian, Center For Remote Sensing, Inc.
