On-line tools for microscopic and macroscopic monitoring of microwave processing

Direct monitoring of temperature, chemistry and microstructure is required to understand microwave heating in more detail, in order to fully exploit the unique features this non-equilibrium processing method can offer. In this paper, we show first that microwave radiometry can be used to follow volumetrically the thermal trajectory of microwave-heated aluminium powder. In-situ Raman spectroscopy is then shown to evidence thermal gradients between diamond and silicon grains in a binary powder mixture. Finally, perspectives and preliminary results of microstructural analysis obtained from X-ray microtomography are presented.