An important goal in research and development (R+D) is to enhance powder injection moulding (PIM) to combine two or more materials with different properties in a single piece manufactured in one process cycle. A further advantage is the considerable reduction of mounting costs.
In principle, a certain range of options should be suitable for creating multi-component products. An important option is two-component PIM which is mainly characterized by a sophisticated sintering procedure taking into account the kinetics of all powder types involved. Investigations into how to fabricate immobile or mobile ceramic shaft-wheel components have been carried out successfully and even metal and ceramic materials can be connected for fixed joints.
A further opportunity is opened up by In-mould Labelling PIM which uses powder filled tapes as the first component. Here again particular attention has to be paid to the sintering procedure, but if this is done, samples containing nano-sized powders in the surface area of the whole body can be obtained.
PiotterV.. A review of the current status of MicroPIM, Part 1: Powder Injection Moulding, Vol. 5, No. 3, 27–36 (2011), Part 2: Powder Injection Moulding, Vol. 5, No. 4, 25–30 (2011).
2.
GermanR. M.: ‘Markets applications, and financial aspects of global metal powder injection moulding (MIM) technologies’, Metal Powder Report, 2012, 67, (1), 18–26, January/February.
3.
AlcockJ. R., LoganP. M. and StephensonD. J.: ‘Surface engineering by co-injection moulding’, Surface and Coatings Technology, 1998, 105, (1–2), 65–71.
4.
MoritzT.: ‘Two-component CIM parts for the automotive and railway sectors’, Powder Injection Moulding International, 2008, 2, (4), 38–39.
5.
PetzoldtF.: ‘Multifunctional parts by two-component Powder Injection Moulding (2C-PIM)’, Powder Injection Moulding International, 2010, 4, (1), 21–27.
6.
PiotterV., ProkopJ., Ritzhaupt-KleisslH. -J., RuhA. and HaußeltJ.: ‘Multi-component micro injection moulding - trends and developments’, Int. Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Technology, 2010, 47, 63–71.
7.
SuriP.: ‘Two-material/two-color powder metal injection molding (2C-PIM)’, in ‘Handbook of metal injection molding’, (ed. HeaneyD. F.., 338–348; 2012, Cambridge, UK, ISBN 978-0-85709-066-9Woodhead Publishing Ltd.
8.
BaekS. -W., JeongJ., KimJ. H., LeeC. and BaeJ.: ‘Interconnect-integrated solid oxide fuel cell with high temperature sinter-joining process’, Int J Hydrogen Energy, 2010, 35, 11878–11889.
9.
GrassoS.., ‘Joining of β-SiC by spark plasma sintering’, Journal of the European Ceramic Society, 2014, 34, 1681–1686.
10.
MunzingerC., DieckmannA. -M. and KlimschaK.: ‘Research on the Design of Sinter Joined Connections for Powder Injection Moulded Components’, Proceedings of Powder Metallurgy 2010 World Congress, EPMA, ISBN: 978 1 899072 13 2, Vol. 4477–484; 2010.
11.
KlimschaK., MüllerT. and FleischerJ.: ‘Analysis of the influence of sinter temperature on the joint quality of sinter-joined microcheck valves made of 17-4 PH stainless steel’, Int J Adv Manuf Technol, 2014, 72, 173–178, DOI 10.1007/s00170-013-5580-y.
12.
PiotterV.., ‘Micro and Precision Powder Injection Molding - Materials, Variants, Opportunities’, Proc. MIM 2014 Conference, Long Beach, 24.-26. 2.2014. Published by Metal Powder Industries Federation (MPIF); 2014.
13.
MaetzigM. and WalcherH.: ‘Assembly moulding of MIM materials’, Proc. Euro PM 2006 - Powder Metallurgy Congress & Exhibition, 23.-25.10.2006; Published by EPMA, ISBN 978-1-899072-33-0, Vol. 243–48; 2006.
14.
MulserM., Benedet DutraG., RagerJ. and PetzoldtF.: ‘Influence of a mismatch in shrinkage for two-component metal injection moulding (2C-MIM)’, Proceedings of Powder Metallurgy 2010 World Congress, Vol. 4527–534; 2010, EPMA Shrewsbury.
15.
DutraG., MulserM., CalixtoR. and PetzoldtF.: ‘Investigation of material combinations processed via Two-Component Metal Injection Moulding (2C-MIM)’, Materials Science Forum, Trans Tech Publications, Switzerland, Vols. 727-728248–253; 2012.
16.
RuhA., HanemannT., HeldeleR., PiotterV., Ritzhaupt-KleisslH. -J. and HausseltJ.: ‘Development of Two-Component Micropowder Injection Molding: Characteristics of Applicable Materials’, Int J Applied Ceramic Technology, 2011, 8, (1), 194–202.
17.
JohnsonJ. L., HeaneyD. F. and MyersN. S.: ‘injection molding (MIM) of heavy alloys, refractory metals, and hardmetals’, in ‘Handbook of metal injection molding’, (ed. HeaneyD. F.., 526–568; 2012, Woodhead Publishing Ltd. ISBN 978-0-85709-066-9.
18.
DanningerH.: ‘Powder metallurgy in Austria’, Int J Powder Metallurgy, 2014, 5, (2), 45–49.
19.
BrookesK.: ‘A new look at refractory powder production’, Metal Powder Report 0026-065733–40; 2011.
20.
SchmidtH., RotaA. C., ImgrundP. and LeersM.: ‘Micro metal injection moulding for thermal management applications using ultrafine powders’, Powder Injection Moulding International, 2009, 3, (2), 55–59.
21.
JiguiC., LeiW., YanboC., JinchuanZ., PengS. and JieD.: ‘Fabrication of W-20wt.%Cu alloys by powder injection molding’, J Materials Processing Technol, 2010, 210, 137–142.
22.
MulserM., HartwigTh. and PetzoldtF.: ‘Tungsten-Copper / Stainless Steel Bi-Material Parts by 2C-MIM’, Proceedings of Powder Metallurgy 2012 World Congress, JPMA, ISBN: 978-4-9900214-9-8, on CD; 2012.
23.
PiotterV., ZeepB., NorajitraP., RuprechtR., von der WethA. and HausseltJ.: ‘Hausselt Development of a powder metallurgy process for tungsten components’, J Fusion Engineering and Design, 2008, 83, 1517–1520.
24.
AntuschS., NorajitraP., PiotterV., Ritzhaupt-KleisslH. -J. and SpataforaL.: ‘Powder Injection Molding - An innovative manufacturing method for He-cooled DEMO divertor components’, Fusion Engineering and Design, 2011, 86, 1575–1578.
25.
AntuschS., ComminL., MuellerM., PiotterV. and WeingaertnerT.: ‘Two component tungsten powder injection molding - An effective mass production process’, J Nuclear Materials, 2014, 447, 314–317.
26.
BaumannA., BrieseckM., HöhnS., MoritzT. and LenkR.: ‘Development in multi-component powder injection moulding of steel-ceramic compounds using green tapes for inmould label process’, Powder Injection Moulding International, 2008, 2, (1), 55–58.
27.
MoritzT., MannschatzA., Müller-KöhnA. and KuceraA.: ‘Current opportunities and challenges for CIM technology’, Ceramic forum international: CFI, 89, No. 10, ISSN: 0173-9913, E21-E25; 2012.
28.
MuellerT.: ‘Ceramic micro parts produced by micro powder injection molding – Latest developments’, Microsystem Tech., 2010, 16, 1419–1423.
29.
RajabiJ., MuhamadN. and SulongA. B.: ‘Effect of nano-sized powders on powder injection molding: a review’, Microsyst. Technol., 2012, 18, 1941–1961.
30.
VorsterE., PiotterV., PlewaK. and KuceraA.: ‘Micro Inmould Labelling Using PIM-Feedstocks’, Proceedings of Powder Metallurgy 2010 World Congress, EPMA, ISBN: 978 1 899072 13 2, Vol. 4505–510; 2010.
31.
MannschatzA., MoritzT., JegustS. and WitzlebenM. v.: ‘Enabling Co-Sintering of ATZ/ZTA Ceramic Compounds by Two-Component Injection Moulding with Green tapes as Interlayers’, Proc. Euro PM2011, Vol. 2, EPMA, ISBN 978-1-899072-21-7171–176; 2011.
