Investigations on Metal Injection Molding of 316L Stainless Steel

Metal Injection Molding (MIM) was performed with water atomized and gas atomized 316L stainless steel powders and powder blends thereof. Feedstocks were prepared using a thermoplastic binder system and subsequently molded into tensile test specimens. Different debinding procedures and sintering treatments were applied and their influence on carbon content in the product was compared. Chemical decomposition processes of the binder and the influence of powder morphology on debinding and sintering behaviour are discussed. Shrinkage of the MIM-fabricated parts was examined and correlated to the powder characteristics. As a result a procedure is suggested to achieve mechanical properties expected for 316L stainless steel.