Effect of dielectric properties on moisture leveling in microwave-assisted drying of laminar materials

The microwave-assisted drying of laminar materials has been studied, and a model is proposed to explain the behavior of these materials under microwave radiation. Different selective heating and drying tests of leather samples have been carried out, and drying curves showed a fast convergence as a proof of this effect. The obtained results look promising for applying this technique on an industrial scale. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.