Binder-based sintering technologies

Hereon/Thomas Ebel

These manufacturing techniques utilize fine metal powders as starting material, which are blended with a polymeric binder. The result is a shapeable mixture (“feedstock”). There are different techniques available to shape the component’s geometry, for example by injection moulding analogous to processing of polymers (MIM: Metal Injection Moulding). Also interesting is the possibility to turn the feedstock into a filament that can be processed by a common 3D-printer (FFF: Fused Filament Fabrication). In all cases, the binder is removed after shaping, typically by a solvent and following thermal decomposition. Subsequently, the metal powder is densified to a pure metal part by sintering. MIM is applied for the production of identical complex shaped components in high numbers and satisfies narrow tolerances.