Abstract An apparatus for joining two ceramics using microwave energy, which comprises: a cavity resonator (II) in which the ceramics (20) are placed; a microwave-generating means (I) for producing microwave radiation to be introduced into the cavity resonator; a pressurizing means (III) for pressing the joining surfaces (20l) of the ceramics against each other, and a temperature control means (IV) for controlling the temperature distribution of the ceramics in such a way that the temperature of the ceramics at the joining surfaces is highest and rapidly decreases toward the unjoined ends of the ceramics. The microwave-generating means may include a microwave oscillator, a klystron amplifier, and an isolator. The temperature control means can be dielectric heating means or a combination of a dielectric heating means and a temperature difference-producing means.
An apparatus for joining ceramics, comprising: a cavity resonator in which ceramics to be joined are placed; a microwave-generating means for producing microwave radiation to be introduced into said cavity resonator; a pressurizing means for applying a pressure to the ceramics so as to press joining surfaces thereof against each other; and a temperature control means for controlling a temperature distribution of the ceramics so as to make a temperature of the ceramics highest at the joining surfaces of the ceramics and decreased toward unjoined ends of the ceramics.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
89 words
An apparatus for joining ceramics, comprising: a cavity resonator in which ceramics to be joined are placed; a microwave-generating means for producing microwave radiation to be introduced into said cavity resonator; a pressurizing means for applying a pressure to the ceramics so as to press joining surfaces thereof against each other; and a temperature control means for controlling a temperature distribution of the ceramics so as to make a temperature of the ceramics highest at the joining surfaces of the ceramics and decreased toward unjoined ends of the ceramics.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
53 words
An apparatus for joining ceramics according to claim l, wherein said temperature control means comprises a dielectric heating means for producing an electric field in a manner that the electric field is perpendicular to the axis of the ceramics and the electric field intensity is highest at the joining surfaces of the ceramics.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
55 words
An apparatus for joining ceramics according to claim l, wherein said temperature control means comprises a dielectric heating means for producing an electric field in a manner that the electric field is parallel to the joining surfaces of the ceramics and that the electric field intensity is highest at the joining surfaces of the ceramics.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
60 words
An apparatus for joining ceramics according to claim 1, wherein said temperature control means comprises: a dielectric heating means for applying microwave energy to the ceramics to heat the ceramics by dielectric heating; and a temperature difference-producing means for making the temperature of the joining surfaces of the ceramics higher than the temperature of the unjoined ends of the ceramics.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus for joining ceramics according to claim 4, wherein said temperature difference-producing means comprises a cooling means for cooling the unjoined ends of the ceramics.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
43 words
An apparatus for joining ceramics according to claim 4, wherein said temperature difference-producing means comprises an intermediate which is interposed between the joining surfaces of the ceramics and made of a material having a dielectric loss factor larger than that of the ceramics.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
44 words
An apparatus for joining ceramics according to claim 4, wherein said temperature difference-producing means comprises holding means for holding the ceramics in said cavity resonator, said holding means being made of a material having a dielectric loss factor smaller than that of the ceramics.