Effect of Sintering Temperature on the Tensile Properties of Powder Injection Molded PH 17-4 STS

분말사출성형을 통해 제조된 PH 17-4 STS 강의 소결온도에 따른 인장 특성

Powder injection molding (PIM) uses the shaping advantage of injection molding but is applicable to metals and ceramics. This process combines a small quantity of polymer with an inorganic powder to form a feedstock that can be molded. After shaping, the polymeric binder is extracted and the powder is sintered often to near-theoretical densities. Accordingly, PIM delivers structural materials in a shaping technology previously restricted to polymers. The process overcomes the shape limitations of traditional powder compaction, the costs of machining, the productivity limits of isostatic pressing and slip casting, and the defect and tolerance limitations of casting. The 17-4 PH stainless steel powders with average diameter of $10{\mu}m$ were injection-molded into flat tensile specimens. Sintering of the compacts was carried out at the various temperatures ranging from 900 to $1350^{\circ}C$. Sintering behavior of the compacts and tensile properties of sintered specimens were investigated.