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AMT MIM - Ceramic Injection Molding

Ceramic Injection Molding (CIM) is a manufacturing process used to mass produce precision ceramic components with complex geometries. The four basic processes of mixing, injection, debinding and sintering are similar to that of Metal Injection Molding (MIM).

CIM excels at various engineering applications, using a wide range of ceramic materials which includes alumina, zirconia, zirconia-toughened-alumina (ZTA) and spinel. These materials offer superior material properties such as chemical inertness, high temperature stability, wear resistance and electrical insulation.

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Step 1 – Mixing

Very fine metal or ceramic powder is mixed with a thermoplastic polymer (known as the binder) to form a homogeneous mixture of ingredients. The mixture or feedstock is made into granulated pellets and directly fed into the injection machine.

Step 2 – Injection

During injection, the feedstock is heated and injected into the cavity of the mold. This allows the desired shapes and geometries to be formed. The molded part is known as the green part.

Step 3 – Debinding

The polymeric binder is removed thermally via the debinding process. The green part is subjected to the debinding process at a high temperature while maintaining its relative size and shape. The brown part consists of a powder skeleton that is brittle and porous.

Step 4 – Sintering

The final stage of the PIM process is sintering. During sintering, the brown part is heated to below its melting temperature. As sintering progresses, density increases, pores are eliminated and the part shrinks to achieve a dense and near-net shape component.