Investigation of Sintering Behaviors of Steatite Parts Produced by Powder Injection Molding

Abstract

In this study, the properties of sintered parts produced by Powder Injection Molding (PIM) from the feedstocks of steatite powders with water based binders were investigated. The steatite powder solid loading was 58 vol. %. The properties investigated were density, % size change, tensile and bending strengths. Sintering in a high temperature furnace at different temperatures, heating rates and sintering times have been carried out. Densities of sintered parts have been measured by using Archimedes’ principle. Maximum attained relative density was 96 % at 1275 °C sintering temperature, 5 °C/min heating rate and 3 hours sintering time. At this sintering condition, linear shrinkage was 17.6 %, tensile strength was 16.7 MPa and bending strength was 130.6 MPa.