Papers by Author: Haw Pei Li

Abstract: Optimization of injection parameters in Micro Metal Injection Molding (μMIM) was described in this study. Stainless steel powder was mixed with Polyethelena Glycol (PEG), Polymethyl Methacrilate (PMMA) and Cellulose Acetate Butyrate (CAB) to produce feedstock. Design of Experiments (DOE) of Taguchi L-27 (313) orthogonal array technique has been used to investigate the significance and optimal injection molding parameters. The signal-to-noise ratio and analysis of variance (ANOVA) are applied to study the optimum levels and effects of process parameters. Simultaneous optimization to obtain the highest green density and excellent surface appearance was discussed. The result concluded that the mold temperature (D) is the most statistically significant process parameter and its contribution to the best appearance and density is the highest.

Abstract: A rheological analysis has been performed to evaluate the characteristics and behaviors of Microminiature Powder Injection Molding (μPIM) feedstocks. The feedstocks comprised of 316L stainless steel powder and water-based binder components. Feedstocks formulations with powder loading of 59% to 63% were prepared and investigated. In these formulations, the binder system consists of 65% Polyethelena Glycol (PEG), 25% Polymethyl Methacrilate (PMMA) and 10% Cellulose Acetate Butyrate (CAB) based on the weight fraction. The influences of rheological behaviors such as flow activation energy (E), Power-Law exponent (n), viscosity (η) and temperature (T) of the SS316L/PEG/PMMA/CAB feedstocks are analyzed and discussed. Results show that all of the feedstocks exhibited the pseudo-plastic flow behavior. The homogenous feedstock at 61 vol. % demonstrated the most satisfactory rheological properties for μPIM with the lowest flow activation energy, Power-Law exponent, n < 1 and moderate viscosity values. It was chosen to perform the injection molding process. Micro components have been replicated successfully by using this selected feedstock.

Abstract: Micro powder injection molding (µPIM) is a preferred technology for the production of micro parts or micro structured parts which derived from the well known thermoplastic injection molding technique. It is suitable for a large-scale production of ceramic and metallic parts without final machining. In the hardmetal industry, submicron and ultrafine hardmetals are the most demanding and also the fastest growing grades in production and application. Four stages involve in µPIM are mixing, injection, debinding and sintering. The volumetric ratio of solid powder to the total volume of powder and binder, which is usually called powder loading, largely determines the success or failure of subsequent processes. Critical solid loading of the powder can be estimated by torque variation, density, melt flow, density and viscosity versus composition. In this paper, critical solid loading of WC-10%Co is determined using torque variation method and its rheological behavior is studied. During the process, the wet surface of the powder particle WC-10%Co will cohesive together and resulted to the torque. Progressive powder is added-in after torque decrease and critical solid loading is identified when torque becomes unstable. Hence, critical solid loading WC-10%Co with WC (APS < 1 µm) is 46% and 42, 43 and 44 vol% of powder loading are selected to mix with wax-based binder system. The viscosity of feedstock show the pseudoplastic behavior and flow index (n) are 0.444, 0.491 and 0.492 for powder loading 42%, 43% and 44% respectively.

Abstract: In this experimental work, Micro Powder Injection Molding (μPIM) was carried out with stainless steel feedstock. The feedstocks with powder loading between 60 v/o to 62 v/o were prepared with 5μm stainless steel powder, Polyethelena Glycol (PEG), Polymethyl Methacrilate (PMMA) and Cellulose Acetate Butyrate (CAB). The main objective was to determine the homogeneity and flow characteristics of the mixture. Capillary rheometer method was performed to define the sensitivity of viscosity to shear rate and temperature for the mixture. The rheological properties were investigated and analyzed through relevant equations. Results show that the flow ability and characteristics of μPIM feedstocks highly depend on the mixture composition. Feedstock at 61 v/o exhibited the most suitable characteristics when mixed at temperature of 130°C with a rotor speed of 30rpm.

Abstract: The global manufacturing trend is now focusing towards miniaturization. Microminiature Powder Injection Molding (μPIM) is a viable technology to fabricate complex and high performance miniaturized components. The μPIM technique was used to produce the near-net shape micro components in this study. Fine stainless steel powder with particle size of 5μm was mixed with a ternary water-based binder system. Micro dumbbells with the largest dimension of 9mm were replicated. In order to obtain successful and well molded micro dumbbells, the Design of Experiments (DOE) technique was applied to investigate the optimal parameters in injection molding process. Injection parameters such as injection pressure (A), injection temperature (B), powder loading (C), mold temperature (D), injection time (E) and holding time (F) were optimized by using stainless steel feedstocks. Taguchi approach is chosen and the results were evaluated with signal-to-noise (SN) ratio and analysis of variance (ANOVA). The results show that the feedstocks could be replicated by using μPIM method with the application of Taguchi approach.