Research Progress on Low-Pressure Powder Injection Molding
Powder injection molding (PIM) is a well-known technique to manufacture net-shaped, complicated, macro or micro parts employing a wide range of materials and alloys. Depending on the pressure applied to inject the feedstock, this process can be separated into low-pressure (LPIM) and high-pressure (H...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-12-01
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| Series: | Materials |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/16/1/379 |
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| author | Vahid Momeni Margarete Hufnagl Zahra Shahroodi Joamin Gonzalez-Gutierrez Stephan Schuschnigg Christian Kukla Clemens Holzer |
| author_facet | Vahid Momeni Margarete Hufnagl Zahra Shahroodi Joamin Gonzalez-Gutierrez Stephan Schuschnigg Christian Kukla Clemens Holzer |
| author_sort | Vahid Momeni |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Powder injection molding (PIM) is a well-known technique to manufacture net-shaped, complicated, macro or micro parts employing a wide range of materials and alloys. Depending on the pressure applied to inject the feedstock, this process can be separated into low-pressure (LPIM) and high-pressure (HPIM) injection molding. Although the LPIM and HPIM processes are theoretically similar, all steps have substantial differences, particularly feedstock preparation, injection, and debinding. After decades of focusing on HPIM, low-viscosity feedstocks with improved flowability have recently been produced utilizing low-molecular-weight polymers for LPIM. It has been proven that LPIM can be used for making parts in low quantities or mass production. Compared to HPIM, which could only be used for the mass production of metallic and ceramic components, LPIM can give an outstanding opportunity to cover applications in low or large batch production rates. Due to the use of low-cost equipment, LPIM also provides several economic benefits. However, establishing an optimal binder system for all powders that should be injected at extremely low pressures (below 1 MPa) is challenging. Therefore, various defects may occur throughout the mixing, injection, debinding, and sintering stages. Since all steps in the process are interrelated, it is important to have a general picture of the whole process which needs a scientific overview. This paper reviews the potential of LPIM and the characteristics of all steps. A complete academic and research background survey on the applications, challenges, and prospects has been indicated. It can be concluded that although many challenges of LPIM have been solved, it could be a proper solution to use this process and materials in developing new applications for technologies such as additive manufacturing and processing of sensitive alloys. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T09:55:28Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-eb71d01cc992456dbbf24aac117dd974 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1996-1944 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T09:55:28Z |
| publishDate | 2022-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Materials |
| spelling | doaj.art-eb71d01cc992456dbbf24aac117dd9742023-11-16T15:50:53ZengMDPI AGMaterials1996-19442022-12-0116137910.3390/ma16010379Research Progress on Low-Pressure Powder Injection MoldingVahid Momeni0Margarete Hufnagl1Zahra Shahroodi2Joamin Gonzalez-Gutierrez3Stephan Schuschnigg4Christian Kukla5Clemens Holzer6Polymer Processing, Montanuniversitaet Leoben, 8700 Leoben, AustriaPolymer Processing, Montanuniversitaet Leoben, 8700 Leoben, AustriaPolymer Processing, Montanuniversitaet Leoben, 8700 Leoben, AustriaPolymer Processing, Montanuniversitaet Leoben, 8700 Leoben, AustriaPolymer Processing, Montanuniversitaet Leoben, 8700 Leoben, AustriaIndustrial Liaison Department, Montanuniversitaet Leoben, 8700 Leoben, AustriaPolymer Processing, Montanuniversitaet Leoben, 8700 Leoben, AustriaPowder injection molding (PIM) is a well-known technique to manufacture net-shaped, complicated, macro or micro parts employing a wide range of materials and alloys. Depending on the pressure applied to inject the feedstock, this process can be separated into low-pressure (LPIM) and high-pressure (HPIM) injection molding. Although the LPIM and HPIM processes are theoretically similar, all steps have substantial differences, particularly feedstock preparation, injection, and debinding. After decades of focusing on HPIM, low-viscosity feedstocks with improved flowability have recently been produced utilizing low-molecular-weight polymers for LPIM. It has been proven that LPIM can be used for making parts in low quantities or mass production. Compared to HPIM, which could only be used for the mass production of metallic and ceramic components, LPIM can give an outstanding opportunity to cover applications in low or large batch production rates. Due to the use of low-cost equipment, LPIM also provides several economic benefits. However, establishing an optimal binder system for all powders that should be injected at extremely low pressures (below 1 MPa) is challenging. Therefore, various defects may occur throughout the mixing, injection, debinding, and sintering stages. Since all steps in the process are interrelated, it is important to have a general picture of the whole process which needs a scientific overview. This paper reviews the potential of LPIM and the characteristics of all steps. A complete academic and research background survey on the applications, challenges, and prospects has been indicated. It can be concluded that although many challenges of LPIM have been solved, it could be a proper solution to use this process and materials in developing new applications for technologies such as additive manufacturing and processing of sensitive alloys.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/16/1/379feedstockdebindingsinteringbinder systemthermal wick debindingLPIM |
| spellingShingle | Vahid Momeni Margarete Hufnagl Zahra Shahroodi Joamin Gonzalez-Gutierrez Stephan Schuschnigg Christian Kukla Clemens Holzer Research Progress on Low-Pressure Powder Injection Molding Materials feedstock debinding sintering binder system thermal wick debinding LPIM |
| title | Research Progress on Low-Pressure Powder Injection Molding |
| title_full | Research Progress on Low-Pressure Powder Injection Molding |
| title_fullStr | Research Progress on Low-Pressure Powder Injection Molding |
| title_full_unstemmed | Research Progress on Low-Pressure Powder Injection Molding |
| title_short | Research Progress on Low-Pressure Powder Injection Molding |
| title_sort | research progress on low pressure powder injection molding |
| topic | feedstock debinding sintering binder system thermal wick debinding LPIM |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/16/1/379 |
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