Micro Powder Injection Molding (µPIM): Review

Abstract

Micro powder injection molding (µPIM) is the combination of micro injection molding and powder injection molding (PIM) technology. The increasing demands on market of microparts further intensify the development of this technology. µPIM process enables the use of a wide range of materials and broadens the applications of micro components. This process is well suitable for large volume production of micro-components at low costs. Requirement of powder and binder is more stringent since product fabricate in micron scale, therefore criterion of the powder and binder has been reviewed in this paper. In addition, the process parameter and development in the computer aid plays an important due to the narrow process window requires even tighter as the quality of the micro-component is sensitive to the parameter. This paper outlines recent development in µPIM. Challenges and further explore for µPIM is concluded in the last part of this paper.