Micro Metal Injection Moulding by NIL Lost Form Technology and Using Nanopowder

PM2010 Powder Metallurgy World Congress & Exhibition

Abstract:  This study aims to develop the manufacturing method of micro-structured parts by the metal powder injection moulding (MIM) inserted sacrificial plastic moulds which were prepared by thermal nanoimprint lithography (NIL). In this process named NIL/μ-SPiMIM, the feedstock composed of nano-sized copper powder and polyacetal-based binder adequately prepared was moulded into polymethylmethacrylate film with fine line and space pattern structures. After the film was removed by organic solvent, molded parts were debinded in vacuum and oxidized in atmosphere, followed by sintering in a reductive gas atmosphere. The filling of feedstock into micro-channels and debinding-sintering conditions were optimized. The microscopic transcriptional property in molded and sintered parts was evaluated by cross-sectional SEM observation. The experimental results revealed reasonable evidences using nanopowder could sinter at very low temperature with keeping the fine shapes. It can be concluded that the manufacturing method of NIL/μ-SPiMIM has great potential to produce precisely metallic parts with a single-digit micrometered structures.