Application of Gyrotron Radiation for Coating and Welding

ABSTRACTThe availability of high power high frequency microwave sources of up to tens of kW has opened up important technological and industrial applications of microwave radiation. The particular use of gyrotrons for generating the high power microwaves is considered.The application of high power microwaves for fusing wear resistant coatings onto refractory materials is discussed, together with the brazing of ceramics, welding together of thick metal parts and the rapid heating and curing of polymers for high reliability long life environmental coatings.It is shown that the use of high power gyrotron radiation enables considerable improvements to be made on conventional technologies for high temperature processing of materials and enables the development of new and efficient processes.