• Journal of the Korea Institute of Military Science and Technology
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.231-240
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• 2012

During the past two decades, Metal Injection Molding(MIM) has become a very competitive technology to fabricate small, precise and complex-shaped parts in large quantities. In this research, the applicability of MIM technology in the mass-production of the high precision fuze parts to save manufacturing cost was investigated. The water-atomized 17-4PH stainless steel powder, one of the best corrosion-resistant high strength materials, was injection-molded into real-shape fuze part and flat tensile specimens. The injection-molded parts were thermally debound in hydrogen gas flow without solvent extraction. Sintering of the debound parts was carried out in vacuum at temperatures ranging from $1150^{\circ}C$ to $1370^{\circ}C$. The sintering behavior, mechanical properties, dimensional precision, corrosion resistance of the MIMed 17-4PH stainless parts were investigated. It was found that almost all the properties of the MIMed parts were comparable to those of the mechanically machined parts. Also, actual military field tests using both MIMed and mechanically machined fuze parts were performed as well and were found to be very successful.

• Proceedings of the Korean Powder Metallurgy Institute Conference
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• 2006.09b
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• pp.769-770
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• 2006

The MIM industry is currently focusing on parts that are used in automobiles and medical instruments. Many of the parts in these categories are very small and often not easy to machine because of its complex geometry. Therefore MIM is well suited for the production of these parts. We tested the sinterability of SUS316L ultra fine powders (3,4, 6, 8micron) produced by ATMIX high-pressure water-atomization, and it showed excellent results. A density of 97% theoretical was obtained by sintering at 1373K when using the ultra fine powder (3micron). Specifically, the finer the powder size, higher was the sintered density. The surface roughness and accuracy are also greatly improved with ATMIX ultra fine powder.

• Proceedings of the Korean Powder Metallurgy Institute Conference
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• 2006.09b
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• pp.773-774
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• 2006

Gas surface treatment is considered to be effective for titanium because of its high reactivity. In this study, we investigated the gas nitriding mechanism in titanium sintered parts produced by metal powder injection molding (MIM) process. The microstructure and nitrogen content of sintered MIM parts were greatly affected by nitriding conditions. Nitriding process strongly depended on the specimen size, for example, the size of micro metal injection molding (${\mu}-MIM$) product is so small and the specific surface is so large that the mechanical and functional properties can be modified by nitriding.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.1-9
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• 2020

The manufacturing processes of high-precision parts for PGM (Precision Guided Missiles) have not been improved for decades; they still depend on machining or high-precision casting. These processes have an advantage when making small amounts of high-reliability parts in the usual case of a PGM system. In the case of a PGM system, however, which has been made for striking an extensive area, requires hundreds of bomblet units that require mass productivity. In addition, in the case of a part that is very difficult to machine, mass productivity and quality cannot be satisfied at the same time. In particular, cost reduction is an essential precondition to strengthening the export competitiveness of Korean defense articles. This study examined whether the MIM process is appropriate for manufacturing high-precision parts that require mass productivity. The optimized MIM process condition was determined after carrying out fundamental research. Comparisons of the quality of prototype parts with original parts and a functional test of a fuse that had been made with MIM parts highlighted the application possibility of the MIM process.

• Proceedings of the Korean Powder Metallurgy Institute Conference
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• 2006.09a
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• pp.39-40
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• 2006

The relationship between the powder particle size change and a mechanical property of the Metal Injection Molding (MIM) product was examined in detail. The XRD results indicate that the diffraction peaks of BCC appeared in compacts of powder particle size of 4 to $10{\mu}m$ as well as the bulk SUS630. However, the diffraction peaks from both BCC and FCC were observed in the compact with powder size less than $3{\mu}m$. TEM observation revealed that the powder with those BCC/FCC two phase structure have a finely dispersed $SiO_2$ precipitates. Because the Si is ferrite stabilizing element, decrease of Si composition in the matrix phase by the $SiO_2$ precipitation resulted in formation of the retained austenite. Therefore, controlling the elements such as Si as well as oxygen decrease is very important to obtain a normal microstructure in ultra-fine powder $(<3{\mu}m)$ injection molding.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Technology of Plasticity Conference
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• 2009.10a
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• pp.57-61
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• 2009

In recently industry, with the miniaturization and high-precision of machine part, the development of mold manufacturing technology for mass production is accompanied by the development of new industrial field such as IT, NT and BT. The metal injection molding(MIM) process combines the well-known thermoplastic injection and powder metallurgy technologies to manufacture small parts for IT, NT, BT industrial. In this study, the bar type MIM mold with a 800um thickness is made for influence of feedstock material and injection parameter through an experiment.

• Transactions of Materials Processing
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.121-129
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• 2015

A net-shape forming of small and complex-shaped metal parts by metal injection molding (MIM) has economic advantages in mass production, especially for STS 316L valve fitting. STS 316L offers excellent corrosion resistance, but it has poor machinability, which is a limitation in using it for a cost-effective production where both forging and machining are employed. Simulation and experimental analysis were performed to develop a MIM STS 316L 90° elbow fitting minimizing trial and error. A Taguchi method was used to determine which input parameter was the most sensitive to possible defects (e.g. sink mark depth) during the injection molding. The final prototype was successfully built. The results indicate that the simulation tool can be used during the design process to minimize trial and error, but the final adjustment of parameters based on field experience is essential.

• Proceedings of the Korean Powder Metallurgy Institute Conference
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• 2006.09a
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• pp.36-37
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• 2006

This study aims to investigate the usage of nano-scale particles in a micro metal injection molding ($\mu$-MIM) process. Nanoscale particle is effective to improve transcription and surface roughness in small structure. Moreover, the effects of hybrid micro/nano particles, Cu/Cu and SUS/Cu were investigated. Small dumbbell specimens were produced using various feedstocks prepared by changing binder content and fraction of nano-scale Cu particle (0.3 and $0.13{\mu}m$ in particle size). The effects of adding the fraction of nano-scale Cu powder on the melt viscosity of the feedstock, microstructure, density and tensile strength of sintered parts were discussed.

• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2023

High-entropy alloys (HEAs) are attracting attention because of their excellent properties and functions; however, they are relatively expensive compared with commercial alloys. Therefore, various efforts have been made to reduce the cost of raw materials. In this study, MIM is attempted using coarse equiatomic CoCrFeMnNi HEA powders. The mixing ratio (powder:binder) for HEA feedstock preparation is explored using torque rheometer. The block-shaped green parts are fabricated through a metal injection molding process using feedstock. The thermal debinding conditions are explored by thermogravimetric analysis, and solvent and thermal debinding are performed. It is densified under various sintering conditions considering the melting point of the HEA. The final product, which contains a small amount of non-FCC phase, is manufactured at a sintering temperature of 1250℃.