• Proceedings of the Korean Powder Metallurgy Institute Conference
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• 2006.09a
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• pp.41-42
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• 2006

Small powder size is very useful in achieving detailed structures. STS 316 nanopowders with an average diameter of 100 nm and $5{\mu}m$ were utilized to produce feedstock. The mixing behavior of the feedstock indicated that the nanoparticle feedstock produced the highest mixing torque at various powder loading compared to the micropowder feedstock. The nanoparticles feedstocks showed that elastic properties are dominant in flow behavior and high viscosity. Conversely the micropowders feedstocks, viscous properties are dominant in flow behavior and less viscosity, nanopowders feedstock perform lower flow activation energy than feedstock with bigger particles.

• Korean Journal of Metals and Materials
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• v.48 no.7
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• pp.630-638
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• 2010

The present investigation has been performed on the mixing behavior and microstructural development during fabrication of Fe micro-nano powder feedstock for a micro-powder injection molding process. The mixing experiment using a screw type blender system was conducted to measure the variations of torque and temperature during mixing of Fe powder-binder feedstock with progressive powder loading for various nano-powder compositions up to 25%. It was found that the torque and the temperature required in the mixing of feedstock increased proportionally with increasing cumulative powder loading. Such an increment was larger in the feedstock containing higher content of nano-powder at the same powder loading condition. However, the maximum value was obtained at the nano-powder composition of not 25% but 10%. It was owing to the 'roller bearing effect' of agglomerate type nano-powder acting as lubricant during mixing, consequently leading to the rearrangement of micro-nano powder in the feedstock. It is concluded that the improvement of packing density by rearrangement of nano-powders into interstices of micro-powders is responsible for the maximum powder loading of about 71 vol.% in the nano-powder composition of 25%.

• Proceedings of the Korean Powder Metallurgy Institute Conference
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• 2006.09a
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• pp.223-224
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• 2006

In this paper, rheological characteristics of Metal Injection Moulding (MIM) feedstock using locally binder of palm stearin are presented. The feedstock consisted of 316L-grade stainless steel powder with three different particle sizes and the binders comprise palm stearin and polyethylene. The viscosity of MIM feedstock at different temperatures and shear rates was measured and evaluated. Results showed that, the feedstock containing palm stearin exhibited suitable rheological properties and suitable to produce a homogeneous feedstock that is favorable for injection molding process.

• Proceedings of the Korean Powder Metallurgy Institute Conference
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• 2006.09a
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• pp.495-496
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• 2006

The kneading process and formulations of feedstock obviously affect the quality of MIM products. In the present work, the rheological behaviour of the composite MIM feedstock, metal matrix (Cu) with few additions of ceramic powders $(Al_2O_3)$, was measured by a self-designed/manufactured simple capillary rheometer. Experimental results show that the distribution between powders and binder is more uniformly when blending time increased. Though high powder loading will increase the feedstock viscosity, the fluidity reveals relatively stable through the load curves of extrusion. Besides, the temperature-dependence of viscosity of the feedstock approximately follows an Arrehnius equation. Basing on Taguchi's method, the kneading optimization conditions and the rheological model of the feedstock were established, respectively.

• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.1-5
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• 2015

Powder injection molding is an important manufacturing technology to mass produce superalloy components with complex shape. Injection molding step is particularly important for realizing a desired shape, which requires much time and efforts finding the optimum process condition. Therefore computer aided engineering can be very useful to find proper injection molding conditions. In this study, we have conducted a finite element method based simulation for the spiral mold test of superalloy feedstock and compared the results with experimental ones. Sensitivity analysis with both of simulation and experiment reveals that the melt temperature of superalloy feedstock is the most important factor for the full filling of mold cavity. The FEM based simulation matches well the experimental results. This study contributes to the optimization of superalloy powder injection molding process.

• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.251-260
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• 2002

In the viscosity measurement of PIM feedstock, slip correction methods require a number of experiments and produce a high level of error. In this study, a rotational rheometer with a parallel-discs configuration having different surface roughness was tried to minimize the effect of the slip phenomenon. Disc surface was prepared in 3 different roughness conditions - a smooth and 2 roughened surfaces. Results with the roughened surfaces were compared with the results obtained with a slip correction method. Relationship between powder characteristics such as size and shape and a surface roughness of the disc was examined for feedstock of 4 different powders with a same binder. As results, the effect of the slip phenomenon could be sufficiently minimized on the roughened surface in most cases. However, the effect of the slip phenomenon could not be sufficiently minimized for feedstock of a round-particular-shape powder and in the case of very narrow gap size.

• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.223-228
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• 2017

Nanopowders provide better details for micro features and surface finish in powder injection molding processes. However, the small size of such powders induces processing challenges, such as low solid loading, high feedstock viscosity, difficulty in debinding, and distinctive sintering behavior. Therefore, the optimization of process conditions for nanopowder injection molding is essential, and it should be carefully performed. In this study, the powder injection molding process for Fe nanopowder has been optimized. The feedstock has been formulated using commercially available Fe nanopowder and a wax-based binder system. The optimal solid loading has been determined from the critical solid loading, measured by a torque rheometer. The homogeneously mixed feedstock is injected as a cylindrical green body, and solvent and thermal debinding conditions are determined by observing the weight change of the sample. The influence of the sintering temperature and holding time on the density has also been investigated. Thereafter, the Vickers hardness and grain size of the sintered samples have been measured to optimize the sintering conditions.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.55 no.6
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• pp.608-617
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• 2018

The effects of the purity and monoclinic phase of feedstock powder on the thermal durability of thermal barrier coatings (TBC) were investigated through cyclic thermal exposure. Bond and top coats were deposited by high velocity oxygen fuel method using Ni-Co based feedstock powder and air plasma spray method using three kinds of yttria-stabilized zirconia with different purity and monoclinic phase content, respectively. Furnace cyclic thermal fatigue test was performed to investigate the thermal fatigue behavior and thermal durability of TBCs. TBCs with high purity powder showed better sintering resistance and less thickness in the thermally grown oxide layer. The thermal durability was found to strongly depend on the content of monoclinic phase and the porosity in the top coat; the best thermal fatigue behavior and thermal durability were in the TBC prepared with high purity powder without monoclinic phase.

• Korean Journal of Metals and Materials
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.32-39
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• 2011

The present investigation was performed on the die compaction and sintering behavior of Fe micro-nano mixed powder with a mixed binder for powder injection molding. Warm die compaction of the feedstock for simulation of the static injection molding process was conducted using a cylindrical mold of 10 mm diameter at $100^{\circ}C$ under 4MPa. The die compaction of the micro-nanopowder feedstock underwent a uniform molding behavior showing a homogeneous distribution of nanopowders among the micropowders without porosity and distortion. After debinding, the powder compact maintained a uniform structure without crack and distortion, leading to a high green density of 64.2% corresponding to the initial powder loading of 65%. The sintering experiment showed that the micro-nanopowder compact underwent a near full and isotropic densification process during sintering. It was observed that the nanopowders effectively suppressed the growth of micropowder grains during densification process. Conclusively, the use of nanopowder for PIM feedstock might provide a new concept for processing a full density PIM parts with fine microstructure.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
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• 2010.05a
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• pp.679-680
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• 2010