Investigation on Thermal Debinding of Powder Injection Molding

Y. C. Lam, Ying Shengjie, K. H. Lam, Jan Ma, K. C. Tam, S. C.M. Yu

Research output: Journal article publicationConference articleAcademic researchpeer-review

Abstract

Powder injection molding has been accepted as an attractive net-shape manufacturing process in fabricating complex shaped and high performance parts of metals and ceramics. Thermal debinding is a critical step in the process and it consumes a major part of the processing time. Investigation of thermal debinding provides the potential for optimization of the process to prevent the formation of defects. Thermal debinding experiments on green compacts of metal and polymer mixture were carried out. Weight loss and residual polymer distribution in the compacts were measured during thermal debinding. They directly reflected the progress of polymer removal and can be used to explain the mechanisms of mass transport. Experimental results were compared with numerical predictions based on the theoretical model proposed by the authors. Good agreements were obtained. The investigation revealed that the distribution of polymer residue is a smooth continuous function of distance. A significant phenomenon, namely enrichment of liquid polymer in the outer surface region of the compact, was predicted numerically and confirmed by experimental observations.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)129-132
Number of pages4
JournalMaterials Science Forum
Volume437-438
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2003
Externally publishedYes
EventProceedings of the 2nd International Conference on Advanced Materials Processing - Singapore, Singapore
Duration: 2 Dec 20024 Dec 2002

Keywords

  • Binder Removal
  • Experimental Verification
  • Heat Transfer
  • Mass Transfer
  • Modeling
  • Pyrolysis of Polymer
  • Simulation
  • Thermal Gravimetric Analysis TGA

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Materials Science
  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Mechanics of Materials
  • Mechanical Engineering

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