The Portuguese private technological research centre has been developing the technology of Ceramic Injection Moulding (CIM) technology which combines the potential of the plastic injection moulding and sintering processes applied to the production of advanced ceramic components. CIM production process is composed by feedstock compounding, injection moulding, debinding and sintering. Compounding is optional as there are commercial feedstock suppliers available in the market.
In that process, a quantity of a polymeric binder is combined with a ceramic powder to form a composite mixture that can be moulded under heating (feedstock). In the single forming stage – by thermoplastic injection moulding - moulding machines and moulds like those used for plastics are used. The biggest difference is the oversizing of the moulding cavities of about of 20-30% due to the presence of the binder, to compensate the shrinkage during the sintering process. As in plastics, moulds have multiple cavities, inserts, taps and feeding systems. In the next step, moulded parts are submitted to a process of binder removing (debinding) while remaining their shape. Depending on the chemical composition of the polymeric binder, a specific debinding method is used - the most used are thermal degradation, catalytic depolymerization or solvent extraction. Then, the parts go for sintering, which is the process where the particles are combined by “semi-melting”, at a high temperature, developing the final mechanical properties of the corresponding dense ceramic. The components produced by sintering can compete with the properties of wrought materials, in part, due to the minimal residual porosity and the fine microstructure formed.
Depending on the part specification, the sintered parts can be submitted to finishing processes, such as grinding, hard machining or surface polishing.
CIM application market is wide and it is directed toward the search and development of new products where, almost always, the limit is creativity. For instance, it is used to make component redesign, with the subtraction of material, creating economic added value or weight reduction, or the design of mono-component multifunctional systems, previously consisting of several parts.The fields of application of the components manufactured by CIM are diverse, being in constant evolution.
The most significant fields of application are:
- casting cores
- mechanical systems
- instrumentation and sensors
- electronics and communications
- watchmaking and jewellery
- consumer goods
The CIM technology offered is well developed to be commercially exploited. The technology provider has developed know-how and offers it together with processing equipment. It is available for prototype production for technology validation, as well as for any other kind of contact, mostly prior to technology transfer.
They are looking for cooperation under a manufacturing and/or joint venture and/or commercial agreement with technical assistance.
