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Kinetic Analysis and Characterization of Epoxy Resins ... - FedOA

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Introduction 50<br />

as an equivalent conductance [12]. If the electric field is assumed to be uniform<br />

throughout the volume, the following simplified equation for power, P , absorbed<br />

per unit volume can be obtained from equation 1.19:<br />

P=2π f ɛ II E 2 (1.20)<br />

As energy is absorbed within the material, the electric field decreases as a<br />

function <strong>of</strong> the distance from the surface <strong>of</strong> the material.<br />

Therefore, equation<br />

1.20 is valid for only very thin materials. The penetration depth is defined as the<br />

distance from the sample surface where the absorbed power is 1/e <strong>of</strong> the absorbed<br />

power at the surface. Beyond this depth, volumetric heating due to microwave<br />

energy is negligible.<br />

Assuming the dielectric constant <strong>of</strong> free space is ɛ 0 , the<br />

penetration depth is given by the following equation [7]:<br />

d= c ɛ 0<br />

2 π f ɛ II (1.21)<br />

The penetration depth <strong>and</strong> knowledge <strong>of</strong> how the electric field decreases from<br />

the surface are particularly important in processing thick materials. If the penetration<br />

depth <strong>of</strong> the microwave is much less than the thickness <strong>of</strong> the material<br />

only the surface is heated. The rest <strong>of</strong> the sample is heated through conduction.<br />

Equation 1.21 shows the dependence <strong>of</strong> the penetration depth on the frequency <strong>of</strong><br />

operation.<br />

Equations 1.20 <strong>and</strong> 1.21 give an insight as to which dielectric materials are<br />

suitable for microwave processing.<br />

Materials with a high conductance <strong>and</strong> low<br />

capacitance (such as metals) have high dielectric loss factors. As the dielectric<br />

loss factor gets very large, the penetration depth approaches zero. Materials with<br />

this dielectric behavior are considered reflectors.<br />

Materials with low dielectric<br />

loss factors have a very large penetration depth. As a result, very little <strong>of</strong> the<br />

energy is absorbed in the material, <strong>and</strong> the material is transparent to microwave<br />

energy. Because <strong>of</strong> this behavior, microwaves transfer energy most effectively to<br />

50

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