Ceramics sintering using a 24 GHz gyrotron system

Sintering at high temperature (up to 2200/spl deg/C) was achieved. Boron carbide has been sintered to 83% of theoretical density without carbon or sintering aides by using a 24 GHz gyrotron as a radiation source. The densification of B/sub 4/C was occurred at 2000/spl deg/C. However the densification showed the plateau at the temperature 2100/spl deg/C. The SEM shows the sintering process for small pores occur at the early stage of sintering below the temperature 2100/spl deg/C. These results suggest the green specimens which doesn't have large pores, make more dense sintered pellets below 2100/spl deg/C.