Effect of microwave treatment on thermal and ultrasonic properties of gabbro

The mining and tunnelling industries are looking for solutions to increase the rates of advance of mechanical excavators in hard and abrasive rocks. Microwave assisted rock breakage has substantial advantages in the volumetric heating, selective heating, instantaneous control and energy savings, which is regarded as a promising technology. A 2 kW single-mode industrial microwave system was used to heat the Austral Black gabbro specimens at the...