How does the MIM work?

A fine metal powder is bonded with an adhesive to form a material. When heated, the substance turns into a sticky, paddle-like substance, which is then injected into the mold at high pressure to form the desired model. After cooling, remove from the mold and process to remove the binder component (called degreasing). In the final step (sintering), the metal powder is placed in a controlled high temperature environment, where it melts and condenses into a compact solid.

What is MIM technology?

MIM is a combination of injection molding and powder metallurgy manufacturing technology.

Why use the MIM?

The MIM has the advantage of making fine, highly complex parts that are difficult to produce with traditional machining or casting techniques and sometimes very costly.

What materials can be applied to the MIM?

Almost all metal alloys are used in the MIM process. Typical alloys include high strength steel, nickel stainless steel, and superalloys. Other materials include refractory alloys, titanium and copper alloys, and low-melting alloys including brass, bronze, zinc and aluminum, but are not economical to use in MIM processes. If you want to learn more, check out the material selection table for GIAN's entire process.