Metal injection moulding of CP-Ti components for biomedical applications

Titanium exhibits properties that are excellent for various applications but the processing routes remain expensive and difficult. Metal injection moulding is a processing route that offers reduction in costs, with the added advantage of near net-shape components. In this study, the commercially pure (CP-Ti) powder was subjected to metal injection moulding studies in order to investigate its suitability for biomedical applications. The CP-Ti with powder size of sub 45 μm was mixed with a binder which consists of a water soluble component, injection moulded and then sintered. The mechanical and impurity level properties of the final components were then determined and found to be within ASTM Grade 2 (ASTM F67) specifications for titanium. The debinding mechanisms, kinetics and chemical reactions are analysed and discussed in detail in this study.