Metal injection molding (MIM) is a metal processing process that mixes finely powdered metal with a binder material to form a raw material. The raw materials are then solidified and shaped into the final product.
Metal injection molding is ideal for streamlining the production of high-volume products or products with complex shapes.
 
Why is metal injection molding so popular?
MIM process is one of the most popular metal processing processes today. Consider this fact: From 1986 to 2004, the MIM market grew from $9 million to approximately $380 million—a pretty substantial jump. One of the reasons this process is so popular is its efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
 
When the product is formed, only 100 grams or less is placed into each "shot", but each shot can be placed into multiple cavities. This means that many small items can be produced simultaneously, thus reducing the production cost of each item.
 
The raw material used in this process can be composed of any number of metals, but the most common type is stainless steel. As the product is formed, the binder material is removed and the metal particles undergo a refinement process to maximize the material's strength and durability. This process usually reduces the size of the item by about 15%.
Is the metal injection molding process complicated?
MIM has grown considerably since it first became popular in 1956. The process saw its most significant advancements in the 1990s, resulting in products that were more durable and functional than similar methods of the time. From then on, the process generally follows these steps:
 
Metal powders are combined with polymers such as wax and polypropylene binders to create a "raw material" mixture.
The raw material is injected into the injection molding machine in liquid form, and it is molded into the appropriate shape.
The formed part, also known as the "green part", is first cooled before being removed from the mold.
Next, binder removal is performed using any of a variety of materials, including catalytic processes, thermoelectric furnaces, and more. Only a portion of the adhesive is removed.
Next comes the debinding and sintering process. The latter is a method of compacting and forming a material using pressure or heat, but it always stops before the material becomes completely liquid.
Sometimes liquid phase sintering is used, and partial melting occurs during the sintering process.
Because the diffusion rate is high, shrinkage is always part of the process.
This generic MIM program, or a program very similar to it, is used every day by thousands of metal fabricators around the world.
Yujiaxin has provided metal customization services since the end of the last century, and has 25 years of experience in MIM process research. In these years of rapid technological development, we have absorbed external technologies and cooperated with customers to create a MIM myth that belongs to the 21st century.
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