What are the methods and steps of metal powder injection molding for textile accessories?

What are the methods and steps of metal powder injection molding for textile accessories?

Metal powder injection molding has been paid attention to. In the whole 1990s, as a result of improving the subsequent conditioning process, it led to the end product, which is similar to or better than the competition process. Through mass production of metal powder injection molding technology, the improved cost efficiency, "near net shape", denied the expensive, additional operation left by the unrealized competition process, and met with strict size and metallurgical specifications.

The process of metal powder injection molding textile accessories includes pressing powder sintering, investment casting, and machining.

The method step of metal powder injection molding textile accessories includes combining the metal powder with the adhesive of wax and plastic to produce the combination of "raw materials" which are injected into the hollow mold using the injection molding machine as a liquid. The "green parts" are cooled and demoulded in the plastic molding machine. Then, a part of the adhesive material is removed by solvent, heat furnace, catalytic method, or a combination of methods. A part of the resulting fragile and porous (2-4% "air") needs to condense metal in a process called sintering furnace in the early working condition called "brown". The temperature at which the MIM parts are sintered is almost high enough to melt the whole metal part directly (up to 1450 ℃) and combine on the surface of the metal particles to produce a final solid density of 96-99%^ The MIM metal of the final product has comparable mechanical and physical properties and the parts are made by traditional metal processing methods, and the MIM material is compatible with the same subsequent metal conditioning treatment, such as electroplating, passivation, annealing, carburizing, nitriding, and precipitation hardening.

The economic advantage of metal powder injection molding textile parts lies in the complexity and small size of metal injection molding parts. Metal powder injection molding materials are comparable to metals formed by competitive methods, and end products are used in a wide range of industrial, commercial, medical, dental, gun, aviation and automotive applications. The dimensional tolerance of ± 0.003 inch per linear inch can be shared, and the tolerance is closer to the limit of possible molding and sintering knowledge. MIM can produce items that are difficult or even impossible to manufacture effectively by means of manufacturing. The increase in cost is marking, and the MIM operation that usually does not increase the cost is due to the inherent flexibility of injection molding and some complex traditional manufacturing methods, such as internal/external threads, miniaturization, or brand identification.

The design functions that can be implemented to MIM operation include batch code, part number or molding component date stamp; The net content of parts manufacturing reduces the waste and cost of materials; The density is controlled at 95-98%; The fusion of parts and complex 3D geometry.

The ability of several businesses to merge into one process ensures that MIM can successfully save delivery time and cost, and manufacturers provide significant benefits. Metal injection molding process is also considered as a green technology. Compared with "traditional" manufacturing methods, such as 5-axis NC machining, it can significantly reduce waste.

There is a wide range of materials available when using the MIM process. The traditional metal processing process often involves a significant amount of material waste, which makes MIM an efficient choice of complex components, including the manufacture of expensive/special alloys (cobalt chromium alloy, 17-4 PH stainless steel, titanium alloy and tungsten carbide). Metal powder injection molding is in extremely thin wall specification (i.e., 0.008 thick), which requires a feasible choice. In addition, the requirement of EMI shielding (electromagnetic interference) has posed a unique challenge, and is currently being successfully achieved through the utilization rate of special alloy (ASTM A753 type 4).