Method of processing ceramic materials and a microwave furnace therefore

A method of processing ceramic materials comprising the steps of providing a microwave ceramic processor furnace of the type comprising a microwave source, an enclosure for the confinement of microwave energy and for containing a ceramic object to be heated to sintered temperatures, means for coupling the microwave source to said enclosure, and independently controllable alternate heating means comprising at least one of radiant and convective heating means, said alternate heating means being disposed in relation to said enclosure to provide at least one of radiant and convective heat within the enclosure, energizing said alternate heating means independently of the microwave energy in the enclosure so as to generate said at least one of the radiant and convective heat substantially throughout a heating cycle of the furnace needed for sintering the ceramic object and at temperatures up to and including sintering temperatures, and controlling a quantity of heat generated in the object by the microwave energy, and simultaneously controlling a quantity of heat generated in the object by, said at least one of the radiant and convective heat so as to provide a desired thermal profile in the object throughout the heating cycle of the furnace to thereby reduce thermal stresses.