Recent advances in PIM technology I

In this article the state of art of the PIM (Powder Injection Moulding) technology is given in brief. The main process flow diagram consisting of four steps: feedstock preparation, injection moulding (green samples forming), the debinding (binder removing) procedure and the sintering process was described. After that the materials for binders and additives for the surface active agents were mentioned in brief. The metal injection moulding (MIM) process was analysed in more detail: MIM- stainless steels, MIM-copper and MIM-aluminium as the most metals common in MIM metal parts production. After that our results of MIM stainless steel 316 L and MIM copper are given. The main powder characteristics, the shrinkage and density of the sintered samples were compared for isostatically pressed PM (powder metallurgy) samples and MIM formed samples. The SEM fractographs of MIM and PM samples are given for MIM green parts, debinded (brown) parts and sintered parts, and PM green parts and sintered parts. The results obtained were compared with literature data before they were applied in metal parts production.