Abstract
Powder Injection Moulding (shortly PIM) enables a high-volume production of completely metal or ceramic complex geometry parts starting from non-completely metallic and ceramic materials, frequently plastic feedstock. Four phases of the PIM technology are described (compounding of feedstock, injection moulding of plastic binder/metal powder, debinding of binder component and sintering) based on the material consisting of thermoplastic binder and metal powder. A feedstock polyacetal binder/low alloy steel powder was chosen and by injection moulding technology the injection molded product, called a 'green part', is obtained. By this way, the 'green part' (precisely, test specimen according to the ASTM E8/E8M-11 standard) is produced in Serbia for the first time. A feedstock characteristics (density, semi-quantitative analysis and visual appearance) and 'green part 'properties (mass, density, semi-quantitative analysis and visual appearance) were tested. It was concluded that satisfactory results were obtained.
Highlights
SIGNIFICANT technical and technological progress in almost all areas of human activities resulted in investigation, development and production of the whole spectrum of different new materials [1].One of the new technologies which enable a high-volume production of complex geometry parts is the Powder Injection Moulding [2].Powder injection moulding (PIM) technology was first used in the 1930s for injection moulding ceramic sheaths to mass produce the spark plug insulators
PIM technology was first used in the 1930s for injection moulding ceramic sheaths to mass produce the spark plug insulators
A visual appearance of the feedstock and of the ”green“ part was tested by a naked eye, without any magnifying instrument
Summary
SIGNIFICANT technical and technological progress in almost all areas of human activities resulted in investigation, development and production of the whole spectrum of different new materials [1]. Powder injection moulding (PIM) technology allows metal or ceramic parts production with the same ease and design freedom as for the plastics material. It is essential that the binder must be able to incorporate a high volume of fine metal or ceramic powders (typically 60% by volume), to form a coherent mass that can be plastified and injection moulded at the elevated temperature, to allow removal of the main binder constituent in a reasonably short, environmentally friendly process and to provide enough strength after debinding by means of the “backbone binder“ [6]. A role of binder is to adhere a powder particles and to enable their production by injection moulding technology and to give a resistance of the product during all phases of the PIM process. RADULOVIĆ,J.: POWDER INJECTION MOULDING TECHNOLOGY: PROPERTIES, POSSIBILITIES AND STARTING ACTIVITIES binder is removed almost completely during debinded phase and the residual one (“backbone”) gives strength to the PIM shaped samples after debinding and is removed in sintering phase. When cooling time is finished, the mould mobile part opens and the part is extracted (Fig.7)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
