The Department of Defense (DoD) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) requested that the National Research Council's National Materials Advisory Board conduct a study to assess the current status of microwave processing technology, identify applications of microwave technology where resulting properties are unique or enhanced relative to conventional processing or where significant cost, energy or space savings can be realized, and to recommend future activities in microwave processing. A committee was established to perform the study and report on their findings. This paper is a summary developed from the committee's report, Microwave Processing of Materials (NMAB Report Number 473, Copyright 1994 by the National Academy of Sciences, National Academy Press, Washington, DC).

The importance of developing systems that are safe and reliable as well as high performance is discussed and emphasized. The nature of current safety standards for interference and personnel safety are described. Several systems from industries such as food and rubber are described with a focus on safety and reliability issues.