I see many ten-twenty year old papers describing microwave fixation techniques, and have recently met people discussing "latest" microwave fixation techniques.
Are there real advantages to microwave fixation? And what's going on in the process is it just heating/drying?

We don't use it, but it seems that the major advantage of microwave techniques is the shorter time requirement, either for fixation or for coloration.

See for example this commercial site and the related page for more information.


(Disclaimer : I've no interest in this company !)