Ceramic Injection Moulding Process Research Articles

Assessing the electrical property of carbon nanotube reinforced oxide ceramic matrix composites produced by ceramic injection moulding

Owing to its remarkable properties, multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) are attracting the interest for realization of sensors. The potential of MWCNTs for high temperature sensing applications was investigated by integration within reinforced aluminium oxide ceramic composite. MWCNTs up to 2 wt% were mixed with reinforced aluminum oxide ceramic composite using solution mixing method to ensure good homogeneilty of the oxide ceramic composite powders. Specimens were realized using ceramic injection moulding process (CIM) followed by debinding and sintering procedures. The topography of specimens were examined using atomic force microscopy (AFM). Electrical measurements were also carried out. The results show good demouldability at high MWCNTs concentration and homogenous distribution of the MWCNTs within the oxide ceramic matrix. AFM images illustrate the reduction of surface roughness by increasing the MWCNTs content which demonstrates the role of MWCNTs to improve the fracture resistance of the oxide ceramic matrix composite. As well, the electrical resistance of the feedstocks were reduced sharply. After sintering process, the resistance range drops enormously from M Ω to reach 12.1 Ω at low MWCNTs content; which make them suitable to be as electrode with high temperature capability. The electrical resistance temperature dependency shows a negative temperature coefficient behaviour with negligible resistance change.

Microstructural and Physical Properties of Yttria Stabilized Zirconia (YSZ) Prepared by Ceramic Injection Moulding (CIM)

Ceramic injection moulding (CIM) is a near net shape process to produce smaller and intricate parts at a competitive cost. However, fine particle size (nano scale) used for such injection moulding process generally leads to agglomeration, higher binder content and critical dimensional shrinkage which results in defects on the sintered components. This study extensively investigates the characteristics of Yttria Stabilized Zirconia (YSZ) for CIM process. YSZ parts were moulded by CIM process that utilized a multi-component binder system using palm stearin (PS) and polyethylene (PE) in 60:40 (vol %) ratio. The powders were characterized using particle size analyzer, pycnometer density and scanning electron microscopic (SEM). The binders were characterized by the pycnometer density, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Powders loading were choosen by the critical powder volume percentage (CPVP) through oil absorption test. YSZ powder was mixed with the binders at different powder loadings ranging from 58 to 60 vol% based on CPVP. The parts were injected moulded, thermal debound, pre-sintered and sintered. The microstructure, green strength and hardness of the sintered part at different powder loadings were investigated. A large porous region was clearly observed at 58 vol% compared to 60 vol%. All samples were sintered at 1350°C, with the highest green strength and hardness were 13MPa and 357.42 HV respectively was given by the sintered part at powder loading of 60 vol.

Ceramic Injection Moulding of engineered glass-ceramics: Boosting the rare-earth free photoluminescence

The obtaining of dense ceramic pieces with versatility of size and shape is a much sought-after objective. Powder Injection Moulding (PIM) and Ceramic Injection Moulding (CIM), in particular, is a well-known technology that allows preparing this kind of complex parts with great variety of materials and at large production volume in a cost-efficient way. Usually, this process provides structural materials for mechanical and conforming purposes, but very few works have focused on manufacture functional porcelains. In this work, CIM method is used to process rare-earth free glass-ceramics with photoluminescent properties. The CIM parameters are optimized to obtain dense ceramic parts based on Na-rich plagioclase previously designed. The CIM processed samples show a higher structural disorder as studied by XRD and Raman spectroscopy and variations of the micro-nanostructure, in comparison with conventional ceramic processed samples. Photoluminescent emission studies show an increase of almost one order of magnitude on the UV-blue emission, due to the rise of the structural defect population generated by the CIM process. The CIM process, thus, provides results that boosted the use of rare-earth free materials for luminescence application having complex shapes.

Ceramic Injection Moulding using 3D-Printed Mould Inserts

In general, micromilled mould inserts made of steel, aluminum or brass are used today for ceramic injection moulding (CIM) processes. However, tool making via mechanical subtractive manufacturing processes as micromilling is time- and cost-effective and the use of 3D printed mould inserts becomes an attractive alternative to metal mould inserts. In this paper, we report about the use of 3D printed mould inserts for CIM of alumina microreactor parts. It was observed that mould inserts printed using the Polyjet technology were very well suited for functional prototyping via CIM. The mould inserts surface was found without visible thermally introduced damage after twenty CIM process cycles. In contrast to the high quality of mould inserts printed using the PolyJet technology, mould inserts made via fused deposition modeling (FDM) technology revealed as not applicable for the purpose of this study. The mould inserts manufactured using FDM-printer exhibit significantly higher surface roughness, larger longitudinal deflection and manufacturing-related undercuts along the edges of the 3D printed microstructure.

Characterisation of NiO-YSZ Porous Anode-Support for Solid Oxide Fuel Cells Fabricated by Ceramic Injection Moulding

Ceramic injection moulding (CIM) has advantages for a cost effective fabrication of large-scale, near-net-shape products. In this work, CIM is carried out to prepare porous anode-support for solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) applications. The CIM process started with a preparation of feedstocks by mixing powder with binder. The feedstock is then injected into the mould of desired shapes. The mouldings were subsequently undergo the removal of the binder (debinding) and, finally, sintering. It is shown that porous nickel oxide-yttria stabilized zirconia (NiO-YSZ) anode-support for SOFC were successfully prepared by CIM technique. In addition, a water-soluble based binder system, consisted mainly of polyethylene glycol (PEG), has been used in this work. This is to avoid the use of organic solvents when wax-based binder was used. Therefore, it can promote more environmentally friendly process. The removal of binder was carried out using water debinding technique. The porous anode for SOFC was subjected to systematic characterisation. The effect of processing parameters, such as powder characteristics and powder/binder ratio has been investigated. Rate of binder removal was also studied. The porous anode specimens were characterised for their properties and microstructure. It was also found that the porosity of the specimens can be controlled by adjusting the sintering temperatures and holding times.

Determination of the flow stress and thermal properties of ceramic powder feedstock in ceramic injection molding

To simulate numerically the material behavior of a ceramic powder feedstock that consist of a two-phase mixture of zirconia powder and polymer binder, a material model is needed that incorporates the change in volume fraction and temperature dependency of viscosity. Heat transfer occurs between the feedstock and the mold during ceramic injection molding (CIM). The feedstock is heavily influenced by thermal properties such as thermal conductivity and specific heat. In this study, three models are proposed to explain the material and thermal properties: a rigid-plastic flow stress model that is dependent on volume fraction and viscosity, a thermal conductivity model, and a specific heat model as a function of temperature. The material parameters in each model are obtained by using the optimization method. Error functions are defined as the differences between the experimental measurements and numerical simulation results. The parameters are determined by minimizing the error functions. The confirmation simulation for each model is conducted by applying cases that are not directly used in the optimization. The results of the confirmation simulation tend to follow the experimental results well, with correlation coefficients exceeding 0.92. The numerical simulation of the CIM process with the determined parameters is compared with the flow behavior of an actual CIM process. Simulation results, such as flow pattern and direction, are in good agreement with the measured feedstock behavior. Therefore, the method for determining the material parameters of the proposed models is feasible.

Optimum Powder Loading of Feedstock Based on an Alumina-Zirconia Powder for Ceramic Injection Molding

The optimum powder loading of feedstock based on an alumina–zirconia powder was investigated. The optimum powder loading were important to avoid any problems that may arise during the ceramic injection molding (CIM) process. The optimum powder loading is determined based on the critical powder loading and the characterization of the material rheological properties. The critical powder loading was determined using an oil absorption method, and the rheological studies were conducted using a capillary rheometer machine. The results showed that a 57 vol.% powder loading is the most suitable and optimal for the CIM process.

Rheological Properties of Zirconia Toughened Alumina Powder for Ceramic Injection Molding

The rheological properties of feedstock are critical element to the success of the ceramic injection molding (CIM) process. The suitability of the developed feedstock can be reducing the problems that may arise during injection molding, debinding, and sintering. This study identifies suitable powder loading based on the rheological properties of materials by using a capillary rheometer machine. The feedstock used is a combination of zirconia toughened alumina powder with a binder that consists of high density polyethylene, paraffin wax, and stearic acid. Experimental results showed that all of the feedstocks are suitable for injection molding because of their pseudoplastic nature and low viscosity. However, the low power law index and low activation energy flow of the 57 vol.% powder loading make it most suitable for the CIM process.

A Ceramic Tubular Probe For Online Substance Concentration Measurement, Manufactured By Ceramic Injection Molding

The current research presents recent respective to the work development of a ceramic tubular probe for online substance concentration measurements. The aim was to develop a robust and acid-resistant sensor device, which can be easily included in existing procedural pipeline systems. To archive those goals a lot of factors had to be checked. For the substance concentration measurements a capacitive sensor effect was chosen. With this method even low substance concentrations down to one-tenth of a per cent can be indentified. For the package material zirconium oxide (tetragonal zirconia polycrystal – TZP) was used. Zirconium oxide is a technical ceramic which is wear-resistant, acid-resistant, has a low thermal conductivity, is electrically isolating and can be uses in a ceramic injection molding (CIM) process. In the phase of the sensor design process multiple geometries for the sensor effect and integration space for the evaluation electronics had to be considered. A standardized DN 10 DIN 32676 flanged joint was also added for an unproblematic connection to the pipelines. All these needed geometries had to be integrated into one ceramic element. As a result of these requirements a 3D CAD model of the sensor element was designed. The CAD-file has shown that there was only the CIM technology left to comprehend developed sensor geometry. CIM is a low cost process for large-scale production which is distinguished by high size accuracy. In the CIM process the material shrinkage, this is caused by the needed debindering and sintering steps, had to be considered. The developed ceramic tubular probe was successfully tested in multiple fluidic systems. It has left the test phase and is now ready for maturity phase.

A Ceramic Clevis Sensor For Online Substance Concentration Measurement, Manufactured By Ceramic Injection Molding

The current research presents recent respective to the work development of a ceramic clevis sensor for online substance concentration measurements. The aim was to develop a robust and acid-resistant sensor device, which can be easily included in existing procedural pipeline systems. To archive those goals a lot of factors had to be checked. For the substance concentration measurements a capacitive sensor effect was chosen. With this method even low substance concentrations down to one-tenth of a per cent can be indentified. For the package material zirconium oxide (tetragonal zirconia polycrystal – TZP) was used. Zirconium oxide is a technical ceramic which is wear-resistant, acid-resistant, has a low thermal conductivity, is electrically isolating and can be uses in a ceramic injection molding (CIM) process. In the phase of the sensor design process multiple geometries for the sensor effect and integration space for the evaluation electronics had to be considered. A standardized DN 40 DIN 32676 flanged joint was also added for an unproblematic connection to the pipelines. All these needed geometries had to be integrated into one ceramic element. As a result of these requirements a 3D CAD model of the sensor element was designed. The CAD-file has shown that there was only the CIM technology left to comprehend developed sensor geometry. CIM is a low cost process for large-scale production which is distinguished by high size accuracy. In the CIM process the material shrinkage, this is caused by the needed debindering and sintering steps, had to be considered. The developed ceramic clevis sensor was successfully tested in multiple fluidic systems. It has left the test phase and is now ready for maturity phase.

CIM을 이용한 PZT 프리폼의 제조공정에 대한 유한요소해석

This paper described finite element analysis (FEA) for fabrication processes of PZT perform using ceramic injection molding (CIM). The viscosity and the PVT characteristics of the manufactured PZT feedstock were measured. The filling patterns, pressure and temperature distributions of the preform were analyzed with TIMON 3D packages during CIM process. The geometrical variables such as gate type, location, and base thickness of the preform were considered. Also the fabrication conditions of the preform were optimized during the entire CIM process. Based on the simulated results, the various good perform was easily fabricated with the CIM process.

Net-shape forming and properties of high volume fraction SiCp/Al composites

High performance SiCp/Al composites have been realized their net-shape forming by use of a novel process—ceramic injection molding (CIM) for the preparation of SiC preform and pressureless infiltration of aluminum alloys. The dimension precision of prepared SiCp/Al parts could reach about ±0.3%, and their properties could also better meet the requirement of electronic packaging on the materials. In this paper, the CIM process to fabricate SiC preform and the infiltration of SiC preform by Al alloys have been discussed in detail. Additionally, the properties of prepared SiCp/Al composites have also been given research and evaluation.