Alternating and continuous microwave fiber tow coating thermo-chemical reactor furnace

A reactor furnace for coating fiber tow, comprising:

• an elongate reactor having a fiber tow inlet and a fiber tow outlet;
• a thermo-chemical reactor section positioned along the elongate reactor;
• a first microwave source configured to direct microwave energy along the thermo-chemical reactor section in a direction from a first end of the elongate reactor toward a second end of the elongate reactor;
• a second microwave source configured to direct microwave energy along the thermo-chemical reactor section in a direction from the second end of the elongate reactor toward the first end of the elongate reactor;
• a gas inlet upstream of the thermo-chemical reactor section with respect to a direction of feed of fiber tow from the fiber tow inlet to the fiber tow outlet;
• and
• a gas outlet downstream of the thermo-chemical reactor section with respect to the direction of feed of fiber tow from the fiber tow inlet to the fiber tow outlet;
• a first circulator downstream of the thermo-chemical reactor section, the first circulator positioned to direct microwave energy from the first microwave source to a first termination point;
• and
• a second circulator upstream of the thermo-chemical reactor section, the second circulator positioned to direct microwave energy from the second microwave source to a second termination point;
• wherein the second circulator isolates the first microwave source from the microwave energy of the second microwave source, and wherein the first circulator isolates the second microwave source from the microwave energy of the first microwave source.