Due to its versatility, micro metal injection molding has become an alternative method in powder metallurgy where it can produce small part with a minimal number of waste. The success of micro MIM is greatly influenced by feedstock characteristics. This paper investigated the characterization and optimization which both of them plays an important characteristic in determining the successful of micro MIM. In this paper, stainless steel SS 316L was used with composite binder, which consists of PEG (Polyethelena Glycol), PMMA (Polymethyl Methacrilate) and SA (Stearic Acid). The rheology properties are investigated using Shimadzu Flowtester CFT-500D capillary rheometer. The geometry of water atomised stainless steel powder are irregular shape, therefore it is expected significant changes in the rheological results that can influence the microcomponent, surface quality, shape retention and resolution capabilities. From rheological characteristics, feedstock with 61.5% shows a significant value with several injection parameters were optimized through screening experiment such as injection pressure (A), injection temperature (B), mold temperature (C), injection time (D) and holding time (E). Besides that, interaction effects between injection pressure, injection temperature and mold temperature were also considered to optimize in the Taguchis orthogonal array. Result shows that 61.5%vol contributes a significant stability over a range of temperature and the best powder loading from a critical powder volume percentage (CPVP) and rheological point of view. Furthermore interaction between injection temperature and mold temperature (BxC) give highest significant factor followed by interaction between injection pressure and mold temperature (AxC).
Characterization of 17-4 PH stainless steel metal injection molding feedstock using mixing torque data
