Characterization of Stainless Steel 316L Feedstock for Metal Injection Molding (MIM) Using Waste Polystyrene and Palm Kernel Oil Binder System

This paper describes the mixing process and homogeneity analysis of a newly developed binder system based on waste polystyrene (PS) and palm kernel oil (PKO) to produce feedstock for metal injection molding (MIM). Since mixing is a critical step in MIM process, hence the mixture of powder and binder should be homogeneous and injectable. In this study, water atomised Stainless Steel powder was mixed with a new binder system consisting of waste polystyrene and palm kernel oil in a Brabender Plastograph EC rotary mixer. Several tests were performed to assess the homogeneity of the feedstock that was produced at 60 vol.% powder loadings. The 60 vol.% was chosen because the Critical Powder Volume Concentration (CPVC) of the SS316L powder was found to be 64.8 vol.%. The tests conducted were density, binder burn-out and SEM morphology observation. It was found that the feedstock shows good homogeneity and suitable for further processing in MIM.

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Mixing Study of Aluminium Waste as Metal Powder for Waste Polystyrene Binder System in Metal Injection Molding (MIM)

Applied Mechanics and Materials ◽

10.4028/www.scientific.net/amm.660.239 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 660 ◽

pp. 239-243

Author(s):

Rosli Asmawi ◽

Mohd Halim Irwan Ibrahim ◽

Azriszul Mohd Amin ◽

N. Mustafa ◽

N. Alawi

Keyword(s):

Injection Molding ◽

Metal Powder ◽

Palm Kernel ◽

Metal Injection Molding ◽

Binder System ◽

Palm Kernel Oil ◽

Aluminium Powder ◽

Kernel Oil ◽

Waste Polystyrene ◽

Burn Out

The mixing process of a newly developed binder system based on waste polystyrene (PS) and palm kernel oil (PKO) to produce feedstock for metal injection molding (MIM) using aluminium waste as metal powder is described. Since mixing is a critical step in MIM process, therefore the mixture of powder and binder should be homogeneous and moldable. In this study, aluminium powder produced from waste aluminium alloy was mixed with a new binder system consisting of waste polystyrene and palm kernel oil in a Brabender Plastograph EC rotary mixer. Several tests were performed to assess the homogeneity of the feedstock that was produced at 60 vol.% powder loadings.The tests conducted were density, binder burn-out and SEM morphology observation. It was found that the feedstock shows good homogeneity and suitable for further processing in MIM.

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Characterization of Waste Plastic Bag as a Novel Binder System and Homogeneity Test for Stainless Steel 316L Metal Injection Molding

International Journal of Engineering and Technology ◽

10.21817/ijet/2016/v8i6/160806204 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 8 (6) ◽

pp. 2523-2529

Author(s):

Mohd Halim Irwan Ibrahim ◽

Nur Hafizah Kamarudin

Keyword(s):

Stainless Steel ◽

Injection Molding ◽

Metal Injection Molding ◽

Homogeneity Test ◽

Binder System ◽

Stainless Steel 316L ◽

Waste Plastic ◽

Plastic Bag

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The Characterization and Flow Behavior of 316L Stainless Steel Feedstock for Micro Metal Injection Molding (μMIM)

Applied Mechanics and Materials ◽

10.4028/www.scientific.net/amm.44-47.2872 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 44-47 ◽

pp. 2872-2876

Author(s):

Pei Li Haw ◽

Norhamidi Muhamad ◽

Hadi Murthadha

Keyword(s):

Stainless Steel ◽

Injection Molding ◽

316L Stainless Steel ◽

Flow Behavior ◽

Palm Stearin ◽

Metal Injection Molding ◽

Injection Molding Process ◽

Binder System ◽

Molding Process ◽

Rheological Characterization

The rheological behaviors of the Micro Metal Injection Molding feedstock are important for the stability of the feedstock during micro injection molding process and quality of the final micro-components. Homogeneous feedstocks are preferable for MIM process to ensure the dimensional consistency of molded components and prevent the defects of powder-binder separation or particle segregation. In this work, feedstocks with various formulations of 316L stainless steel and binder system were prepared by using Brabender Plastograph EC Plus mixer. The binder system comprises of palm stearin, polyethelene (PE) and stearic acid. In order to obtain the viscosity, activation energy, flow behavior and mold ability index, the rheological characterization of the feedstocks were investigated in numerous conditions by using Shimadzu 500-D capillary rheometer The study showed that all of the 316L stainless steel feedstocks are homogenous with pseudo-plastic behaviors.

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