Can You Injection Mould Metal?

When it comes to injection moulding, most people think of plastics. However, there's another exciting realm that goes beyond plastics, and that's metal injection moulding. The question often asked is, "Can you injection mould metal?" In this article, we'll explore the fascinating world of metal injection moulding (MIM).

What is Metal Injection Moulding (MIM)?

Metal Injection Moulding is a manufacturing process that combines the versatility and precision of plastic injection moulding with the strength and durability of metal materials. It allows for the production of complex, high-precision metal parts with intricate geometries that would be difficult or impossible to achieve using traditional metalworking methods.

How Does MIM Work?

1. Feedstock Preparation: Metal powders are mixed with a binder material to create a feedstock that has a consistency similar to toothpaste.

2. Injection Moulding: The feedstock is injected into a mould cavity under high pressure and temperature, just like in plastic injection moulding.

3. De-binding: The moulded parts go through a de-binding process, where the binder material is removed, leaving behind a porous metal structure.

4. Sintering: The de-bound parts are then sintered at high temperatures, causing the metal powders to fuse together, resulting in a solid metal part with high density.

   Sintering is a manufacturing process used to create solid objects from powdered materials, typically metals, ceramics, or even plastics. The primary goal of sintering is to take a powdered material and bond its particles together, forming a coherent and solid structure.

5. Finishing: Post-processing steps such as machining, polishing, or plating may be required to achieve the desired final specifications.

Advantages of Metal Injection Moulding

1. Complex Geometries: MIM allows for the production of intricate and complex metal parts with tight tolerances and fine details.

2. Material Variety: A wide range of metals and alloys can be used in MIM, including stainless steel, titanium, and even materials with special properties like magnetic or electrical conductivity.

3. Cost Efficiency: MIM can be a cost-effective alternative to traditional machining, especially for high-precision, low to medium-volume production runs.

4. Reduced Waste: MIM generates minimal material waste compared to traditional machining methods.

5. Consistency: The injection moulding process ensures high consistency and repeatability in part production.

At Great Central Plastics, we are known for our expertise in plastic injection moulding. We occasionaly get asked whether we can mould products out of metal. Although metal injection moulding is certainly possible, it's not an area that we can currently help with.

Image courtesy of INDO-MIM PVT. LTD., CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons