A new technology in production of aerospace components: powder injection molding (PIM)

In recently years, powder injection molding (PIM) has become one of the powder metallurgical processes which is gradually developing. Complex shaped and high performance material can be produced by the PIM process. This new production technology compares well with other production processes for metal and/or ceramic materials production. The mixing of binding and metal and/or ceramic powders are shaped in injection molds, then the bindings are removed and finally the raw materials are sintered. After that the material is ready for service. With all its characteristics, PIM requires high technology and economic and feasible processes. Producing items with PIM is complicated. Aviation industries produce some materials that including tungsten, heavy alloyed items, titanium alloyed items, stainless steel items and thermal fragments with ceramic objects with this technology. Items produced with this technology also use electronic components. In this study, PIM with general core processes are described and their application in the aviation industry is examined in detail.