Papers by Author: Saburo Sano

Abstract: We measured the microwave and millimeter-wave behaviors of ceramics and metal powders as a basis for developing microwave and millimeter-wave heating technology. In this study, nitride powders were subjected to microwave absorption measurements at elevated temperature. These measurements were performed using a system comprising a vector network analyzer, a circular wave-guide fixture, and a vacuum furnace. The sample’s microwave absorbency was evaluated by the change in reflection power from the sample in the circular wave-guide fixture under vacuum heating. Measurements were performed at approximately 24 GHz and at temperature up to approximately 1100°C. Boron nitride (BN) exhibited almost no absorption of microwaves up to 1100°C, similar to the results of a low-loss oxide powder such as alumina. Dichromium mononitride (Cr2N) powder exhibited a rather high absorption of microwaves at room temperature. During vacuum heating, absorbency of Cr2N started to decrease at 300°C, and became almost zero at temperature greater than 600°C, similar to the behavior of iron powder. This result indicated that roughly packed Cr2N powder absorbs microwave radiation; however, during vacuum heating, the compact body was sintered and the whole sample body became a reflector of microwaves. This change was irreversible, and the sample maintained its reflection behavior upon the cooling. When a mixed powder of Cr2N (20 mass%) and Al2O3 was heated under vacuum, the compact sample exhibited microwave absorption that increased with increasing temperature. This change was reversible upon cooling. These results indicated that the mixed powder did not become reflector of microwaves; Cr2N particles were not electrically connected each other because the Al2O3 particles kept the Cr2N particles separate during the vacuum heating process.

Abstract: Stabilized zirconia shows rather high microwave absorbency at room temperature, and the absorbency become higher with increasing temperature. In this study, stabilized zirconia powder, partially stabilized zirconia powder and zirconia fiber were subjected for microwave absorption measurements at elevated temperature. Microwave absorption measurements were done by using a system consists of a microwave vector network analyzer, a circular wave-guide fixture and a vacuum furnace. Microwave absorbency was evaluated by the reflection power change from the sample in the circular wave-guide fixture under vacuum heating. Microwave absorbency of stabilized zirconia powder, partially stabilized zirconia powder and zirconia fiber gradually increased with the increase of temperature. We supposed that the increase of microwave absorbency is related to the ionic (oxygen) conduction behavior of stabilized zirconia. Stoichiometric composition ZrO2 powder was also subjected for a measurement to consider the relation between microwave absorbency and ion conduction of zirconia. As the result, stoichiometric composition ZrO2 powder was not absorbed microwave power even when the powder was heated up to 900oC because it isn’t an oxygen ion conductor.

Abstract: Ba-ferrite particles were dispersed into distilled water to make stable slurry, which was then slip cast in transverse magnetic field. The water drainage from the slurry was performed by vacuum evacuation to solidify the slurry into a cake – like sample. To obtain high degree of alignments, the slurries were slip cast in static – / pulsed – magnetic field and by using two separate steps of magnetic orientation and drainage. The particles turned their faces to the magnetic field and formed long chains stacked immediately while the magnetic field was applied, of which high induction density led to high degree of alignments. It is necessary to correspond with the drainage, gravity and magnetism so as to suppress the tendency of distortion or cracking of the sample as the aligned long chains of the particles tend to break into pieces and cave in randomly, which eventually destroys the particle alignments.

Abstract: Characteristics of heating processing based on millimeter-wave or pulsed high current are discussed from the standpoint of the interaction between electromagnetic energy and solid materials. Capabilities of the electromagnetic processing are indicated by exemplifying several successful results such as millimeter-wave sintering of AlN, millimeter-wave post-annealing of aerosol-deposited PZT films and synthesis of single-phase nano-structured anatase by SPS (or pulsed high current heating). It is shown in these examples that well-characterized properties such as high thermal conductivity and preferential orientation are created by the inherent effect due to the electromagnetic field, which is called microwave or SPS effect in millimeter-wave or SPS processing.

Abstract: It has been required to change the industrial production processes to low waste emission ones from a view point of environmental issue. In the production of aluminum building materials, large amount of sludge is emitted as industrial waste. If we can change the waste to valuable products, we can respond to the request. Synthesis technology of kaolinitic particles from various starting raw materials had been established at National Industrial Research Institute of Nagoya (NIRIN, present: AIST Chubu). Hydro-thermal treatment is applied to the technology and obtained particles show various shapes such as plate, shell and so on. Collaborative research work between NIRIN and YKK corporation to develop high performance alumina powder form aluminum sludge, a by-product from surface treatment process in the manufacturing of aluminum building materials, had been done by using the fruits from the research project on kaolinite synthesis at NIRIN. As the result, high performance platy alumina powder was developed by using hydro-thermal synthesis technology.

Abstract: Water-based slurries containing barium ferrite particles have been prepared and slip cast in magnetic field. This paper presents the characteristics of the suspensions in terms of Iso-Electric Points (IEP) and zeta potential that were evaluated through pH titration and polymer adsorption. Both enlarging the specific surface area of particles by planetary milling and adjusting the pH to low value apparently increase the zeta potentials. Stable slurry was obtained by adding polyethylene glycol (PEG) into the suspension at pH = 2 ~ 3.5. The steric repulsion plays key role in dispersion and PEG films served as insulative layers and mechanically kept particles from contact each other. The barium ferrite particles formed many stacks of plates during slip casting, which either aligned randomly without magnetic field applied or regularly aligned to form textured structure when magnetic field was applied.