- MIM uses metal feedstock has proven its mettle in manufacturing sectors for producing intact, complex and high-performance metal parts
- MIM incorporates a rigid frame—a matrix or mold, to give a concrete structure to liquefied raw material
- In hardware & accessories, MIM has consistently proved its brilliance, precision and efficiency
India’s manufacturing sector has accommodated a paradigm shift in technology. Extensive research in MIM has paved way for efficient handling of powder sintering, injection molding, polymer rheology and metallurgy. Indian hardware sector has maintained high stability in its process, output and quality.
A Closer Look into Manufacturing Process
In building net-shaped metal parts, MIM involves an infusion of super-fine metal powders and a polymer binder system to churn a highly suitable feedstock appropriate for injection moulding. MIM has evolved to be in indispensable part of the electronics, pharmaceutical, automotive and aerospace sectors.
In hardware, while materials such as alloy have a high compatibility rate with MIM, metals with lower melt temperature such as zinc and aluminium are less suitable for MIM. Nonetheless, MIM applies to a wide range of alloys, such as titanium and ASTM F17 nickel-free stainless steel.
MIM incorporates a rigid frame—a matrix or mold, to give a concrete structure to liquefied raw material. Once the metal powder has created a feedstock, it is injected into a mold or suspended in liquefied polymer or wax. Applied heat and pressure wane away from the binder, whipping the powder into a mass using a process called “sintering.”
The output of this mold is generally brittle yet the powdered solution lies compact in the binders. In the next step, the parts are loaded into a furnace of 2,400 degrees Fahrenheit blazing temperature. The heat shrinks the parts to their desired sizes besides densifying them up to 98%. If customers’ requirements stipulate, machining, coining and surface finishing and coating are also applied to the sintered component. The surface finishes achieved with MIM at 1 µm are infinitely better than alternatives where the cast part hovers around 3.2 µm.
In hardware and accessories, MIM has consistently proved its brilliance, precision and efficiency. Through MIM, hardware components can attain commendable accuracy in hole thickness dimension error and wall thickness.
MIM, Pivotal in Hardware
One of the cost-effective non-conventional ways to alter the traditional metal forging techniques, MIM is crucial in applications that require exceptional strength and magnetic permeability, impossible to achieve by plastic and light metal toys. India, MIM is instrumental in advancing the manufacturing sector to complete technological rejuvenation.
The hardware sector has benefitted from MIM metalworking process which has guaranteed large manufacturing of parts contrived in complex shapes at smaller sizes.
In Indian hardware industry, manufacturers have shown persistent adherence to MIM for its low human intervention, inventory and raw material expenses. India, like its global competitors, is also revamping its injection molding market to meet the demands from the electronics automotive, medical, electronics & orthodontics industries.
Globally, the market of MIM is estimated to grow to USD 5.02 billion by 2025 for its affordability in manufacturing small precision components which would be expensive to produce using alternate methods. With an annual turnover of US$ 3.5 billion in 2017-2018, the MIM industry in India is transitioning to a highly profitable industry. To find our how Metal Injection Molding can benefit your industry, write to bollina@lechtechmaterials.com
