The　rapid　sintering　of　metals　and　their　alloys　and　composite　materials　has　always　been　a　problem　in　the　field　of　metal　materials.　Microwave　sintering　technology　has　the　characteristics　of　volume　heating,　selective　heating　and　non-thermal　effect.　Compared　with　the　traditional　sintering　process,　it　has　great　potential　in　the　field　of　metal　materials　with　fine　and　uniform　grain　structure　and　excellent　comprehensive　mechanical　properties.　This　article　describes　the　influence　of　the　thermal　effects　(dielectric,　conductance　and　magnetic　loss)　and　the　non-thermal　effects　(discharge　and　magnetic　effect)　on　sintered　samples　during　the　microwave　sintering　process.　The　major　progress　on　the　microwave　sintering　of　metals,　alloys　and　their　composite　materials　were　reviewed.　The　problems　faced　in　the　current　research　are　analyzed,　and　the　research　direction　of　microwave　sintering　technology　in　the　future　is　prospected,　which　provides　a　powerful　reference　for　follow-up　researchers.　©　2021,　Materials　Review　Magazine.　All　right　reserved.