In traditional processing techniques, individual components are first fabricated and then assembled into parts. With the use of MIM technology, integration into a complete single component can be considered, greatly reducing steps and simplifying processing programs. Compared with other metal processing methods, metal injection molding has high product size accuracy and requires no secondary processing or only a small amount of precision processing. Let's take a look at the application of metal injection molding technology!
The shape of the product is close to the requirements of the product. The dimensional tolerance of the part is generally maintained at around 0.1~0.3, especially for hard alloys that are difficult to process, reducing processing costs. Processing loss of precious metals is particularly important.
The product has a uniform structure, high density, and good performance. During pressing, due to the friction between the mold wall and the powder, and between the powders, the pressing pressure distribution is uneven, resulting in uneven microstructure of the pressed billet. This will cause uneven shrinkage during sintering of the pressed powder metallurgy parts, so it is necessary to reduce the sintering temperature to reduce this effect, resulting in high porosity, poor material density, and seriously affecting the mechanical performance of the product.
The presence of a binder ensures the uniform distribution of the powder, thereby eliminating the uneven structure of the billet, and further enabling the density of the sintered product to reach its theoretical density. Generally, the density of pressed products can only reach 85% of the theoretical density. High density products can increase strength, enhance toughness, improve ductility, conductivity, and thermal conductivity, and improve magnetic properties.
Metal injection molding using MIM technology has high efficiency and is easy to achieve large-scale production. Its service life is comparable to that of engineering plastic injection molds. Because metal molds are used, MIM is suitable for batch production of parts. As the product billets are molded by injection molding machines, production efficiency is greatly improved, production costs are reduced, and the consistency and repeatability of injection molded products are good, providing a guarantee for large-scale industrial production.
The application field of injection molded products is very wide and the materials that can be used for injection molding are very wide. In principle, any powder material that can be poured at high temperatures can be made into parts using the MIM process, including materials that are difficult to process with traditional manufacturing processes and high melting point materials. In addition, MIM can also conduct material formula research according to user requirements, manufacture any combination of alloy materials, and make composite materials into parts. The application of injection molded products has covered all areas of the national economy and has broad market prospects. Improvement in performance of metal injection molding through MIM technology using micron-level fine powder can not only accelerate sintering shrinkage, but also help improve material mechanical properties, extend material fatigue life, improve stress corrosion resistance, electrical resistance, and magnetic properties.
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