• The MIM procedure combines the classic powder metal sintering technology with injection molding technology from plastics technology.
• The finest metal powders are mixed with an organic binder system and processed into an injection-moldable mass.
• Subsequent processing takes place in slightly modified injection molding machines into so-called “green parts” = handleable, dimensionally stable parts, but with low strength; these parts are approximately 18% larger than the finished product.
• After demoulding, the parts are again debound. This takes place in a chemical and a thermal step. Then there is a porous part (“blueing”) with relatively low strength.
• The complete conversion into a body with comparable properties of a metal body machined from solid takes place in the final sintering process at temperatures close to the melting point. The diffusion processes that take place lead to a dense metallic body. The associated loss of volume is significantly higher than in plastics processing and is taken into account accordingly in the design.
• In many cases, the parts produced in this way do not require any post-processing. If necessary, all conventional methods can be used (grinding, drilling, coating, electroplating, hardening, etc.).

Properties (sintered)