Optimization of Powder Injection Molding Process Parameter for Production SS316/TiC Composite for Biomedical Application

The Current investigation was designed to study different steps of powder injection molding of Stainless Steel/TiC Composite. So a multi-component binder was selected and its melting, recrystallization and degradation temperatures were evaluated via DSC and TGA experiments. In order to study the rheological behavior of feedstock, a capillary rheometer was incorporated and the effects of shear rate, TiC content, temperature and solid loading on rheological behavior of feedstock were investigated and based on the results the best feedstock and processing temperature were selected. In the next step, some samples were injection molded at two temperatures (93 and 115 oC) and two pressures (5 and 10 MPa). Results showed that by increasing temperature from 60oC to 70oc the viscosity decreased 20% but will be stable in higher temperature. The viscosity of all sample was below 1000 Pa.s. the calculated solid loading was 64%. By adding TiC particles, the green density of samples decreased from 4.85 gr/cm3 to 4.7 gr/cm3.