Systems and methods for fabrication of ceramics from celestial materials using microwave sintering and mechanical compression for space mining applications are disclosed. In one aspect, a chamber for sintering loose mineral material into solid ceramic shapes includes a plurality of zirconia insulting plates configured to clamp the mineral material and forming a cavity in which the mineral loose material is contained, and at least one dipole array configured to generate microwave energy and apply the microwave energy to the mineral material.

A method and an apparatus method for producing direct reduced iron (DRI) from iron ore using biomass as a source of reductant and as a heating source of the iron ore and electromagnetic energy as a further heating source in a furnace having multiple zones. The zones include a preheat zone and a reduction zone between an inlet for briquettes of iron ore and biomass and an outlet for direct reduced iron. The method includes counter-current movement of (a) briquettes of iron ore and biomass in a direction from the inlet to the outlet and (b) combustible gases in an opposite direction in the furnace.

A rotary kiln comprises: a sintering device provided with a cylindrical rotation tube for mixing an input powder raw material while rotating in a horizontal direction; an external heating device for heating the powder raw material input into the rotation tube by heating the outside of the rotation tube; and an internal heating device for stirring and heating the powder raw material input into the rotation tube simultaneously. The internal heating device includes a microwave generation part for generating microwaves; a guide part for guiding the microwaves generated from the microwave generation part into the rotation tube; and a stirring heat generation part coupled to an inner circumferential surface of the rotation tube for stirring the powder raw material input into the rotation tube and simultaneously generating heat when absorbing the microwaves so as to heat the powder raw material.

A process for direct reduction of iron ore in a solid state includes exposing briquettes of iron ore fragments and biomass to electromagnetic energy under anoxic conditions and generating heat within iron ore in the briquettes. The iron ore is reduced in a solid state within the briquettes, and the biomass provides a source of reductant.

An apparatus includes a microwave source emitting energy in a frequency range of about 300 Mhz to about 300 Ghz. At microwave cavity includes a stationary input section, a stationary output section, and a rotating processing section between the input section and the sample output section. A waveguide introduces microwave energy into at least one of the sample input section and the sample output section.

A microwave furnace has a furnace chamber formed between a chamber housing and a sintering platform for an object to be sintered. A microwave source is arranged for emitting microwaves into the furnace chamber. The microwave furnace further has a susceptor that comprises a material which over a temperature range of the material of at least 23 C to 700 C couples into microwaves. The susceptor and the furnace chamber are movable relative to each other between a first position, in which the susceptor is positioned relative to the furnace chamber, and a second position in which the susceptor is positioned further retracted from the furnace chamber relative to the first position. The invention helps providing a zirconia material with a relative homogeneous material structure.

A method for at least locally increasing the plasticity of a metal workpiece, which contains in particular an aluminum alloy, wherein the workpiece is irradiated in order to increase its temperature, and an associated production device, is provided. In order to be able to more quickly and thoroughly heat specific regions of a metal workpiece than other regions in a targeted manner, wherein it is possible to heat these regions more quickly and thoroughly with the same radiation output, while the surface of the workpiece remains largely unaffected, it is proposed that an absorbent be applied at least locally to the workpiece prior to irradiation thereof, wherein the degree of absorption of the absorbent for the radiation is greater than the degree of absorption of the workpiece for the radiation.

Systems and methods for fabrication of ceramics from celestial materials using microwave sintering and mechanical compression for space mining applications are disclosed. In one aspect, a chamber for sintering loose mineral material into solid ceramic shapes includes a plurality of zirconia insulting plates configured to clamp the mineral material and forming a cavity in which the mineral loose material is contained, and at least one dipole array configured to generate microwave energy and apply the microwave energy to the mineral material.

The invention is a microwave gun and arc plasma torch furnace used to refine titanium, Ti, from titanium dioxide, TiO.sub.2, powder. The furnace includes high frequency microwave emitters that create a high temperature zone strongly vibrating the titanium dioxide powder, TiO.sub.2, and lengthening and weakening the valence bonds in the titanium dioxide powder, TiO.sub.2, titanium, Ti, and oxygen, O, atoms. The furnace also uses nitrogen arc plasma torch generators to generate a N.sup.+ plasma to completely disassociate the titanium, Ti, and oxygen, O, atoms into titanium ions, Ti.sup.+ and oxygen ions, O.sup., and permitting the formation of nitrogen dioxide, NO.sub.2, and melted titanium, Ti.

A method and an apparatus for recycling a significant amount of heat within a linear hearth furnace by means of an endless conveyor that transports briquettes through the furnace from an inlet (briquette feed) end to an outlet (DRI discharge) end and then returns to the inlet end and transfers a significant amount of heat from the outlet end to the inlet end of the furnace.