Powder microinjection molding

Powder microinjection molding technology was first proposed by German, and then research has been carried out worldwide. As a process developed from powder injection molding technology, the basic process of powder microinjection molding is the same as conventional powder injection molding. Generally speaking, materials used in traditional powder injection molding can also be used in micro injection molding, such as 316L, 17-4PH, WC-Co, W, W-Cu, Cu, and Al2O3. Compared with traditional powder injection molding technology, powder microinjection molding has smaller parts and higher surface finish, so it requires finer powder (about 1 μm). Because the fine powder has a higher specific surface area, the microinjection-molded powder needs to add more binders when mixing, and its surface energy is higher, and it is easier to be oxidized and polluted.

In recent years, micro injection molding technology has made great progress in the application of micro metal and ceramic component forming. In particular, the application of this technology in metal forming enables micro-components to obtain high strength, good corrosion resistance, high temperature stability, excellent magnetic properties, and abrasion resistance. Using this technology can save expensive assembly costs for micro-components. Foreign countries have achieved certain results in powder microinjection molding. For example, the German IFAM Research Institute mainly researches microinjection molding products used in chemical, fluid, biomedical, etc., and also includes wear-resistant micro parts and molds made of hard alloy powder. Co-sintering and co-connection of two or more injection blanks; Karlsruhe Research Center applies micro-injection molding to manufacture micro-structure components such as gears and micro-optical benches.