MIM technology will be the main development direction of powder metallurgy technology in the future

Nov 04, 2022

Metal Powder Injection Molding (MIM) is a new powder metallurgy near net shape forming technology which introduces modern plastic spray forming technology into the field of powder metallurgy.

The basic technological process is as follows: 1. The solid powder and organic binder are uniformly mixed and granulated, and then injected into the mold cavity with a spray forming machine under the heating and plasticizing state (~150 ℃) for curing;

2. Then the binder in the forming blank is removed by chemical or thermal decomposition method;

3. Finally, the final product is obtained through sintering and densification.

Compared with traditional processes, MIM technology has the characteristics of high precision, uniform organization, excellent performance, low production cost, etc. Its products are widely used in electronic information engineering, biomedical equipment, office equipment, automobiles, machinery, hardware, sports equipment, clocks and watches, weapons, aerospace and other industrial fields. Therefore, it is generally believed internationally that the development of this technology will lead to a revolution in the forming and processing technology of parts and components, known as "the hottest part forming technology today" and "the forming technology of the 21st century".

Parmatech, a company in California, USA, invented this technology in 1973. In the early 1980s, many European countries and Japan also devoted great efforts to research this technology, which was rapidly promoted. Especially in the mid-1980s, this technology has achieved rapid development since its industrialization, increasing at an alarming rate every year. So far, more than one hundred companies in more than ten countries and regions, such as the United States, Western Europe and Japan, have been engaged in the product development, development and sales of this technology. Japan is very active and outstanding in competition. Many large companies have participated in the promotion of MIM industry, including Pacific Metal, Mitsubishi Steel, Kawasaki Steel, Kobe Steel, Sumitomo Mine, Seiko Epson, Datong Special Steel, etc. At present, there are more than 40 companies specializing in the MIM industry in Japan, and the total sales value of their MIM industrial products has already exceeded that of Europe and directly followed the United States. So far, more than one hundred companies have been engaged in the product development, research and sales of this technology in the world. Therefore, MIM technology has become the most active frontier technology field in the new manufacturing industry. It is a pioneering technology in the world's metallurgical industry and represents the main direction of powder metallurgy technology development.

Metal powder spray molding technology is a product of the penetration and intersection of plastic molding technology, polymer chemistry, powder metallurgy technology, metal materials and other disciplines. The mold can be used to spray shape blanks and rapidly manufacture high-density, high-precision, three-dimensional complex structural parts through sintering, which can quickly and accurately materialize design ideas into products with certain structural and functional characteristics, and can directly produce parts in batches, It is a new change in the manufacturing technology industry. This process technology not only has the advantages of less conventional powder metallurgy processes, no cutting or less cutting, and high economic benefits, but also overcomes the shortcomings of traditional powder metallurgy products, uneven materials, low mechanical properties, difficult to form thin walls, and complex structures. It is especially suitable for mass production of small, complex and metal parts with special requirements.

To learn more about metal powder injection molding technology, please click ZHONGWEI Precision Metal Powder Injection Molding MIM Technology in Qinhuangdao.