Ceramic injection molding

Compared with the traditional molding techniques such as slip casting, cold isostatic pressing, and dry pressing, Ceramic Injection Molding (CIM) is the method of choice for producing high volumes of precise and complex, net-shape components with high surface quality and high dimensional accuracy. Injection molding additionally offers the advantage of accomplishing ceramic parts with internal or external gears, undercuts, hollows, cross holes and serrations without any subsequent time and cost consuming mechanical operations. Originally seen as an extremely attractive option for the high-volume production of, especially, smaller items (German, 2019), the technologies underpinning this forming method have evolved such that medium- and low-volume runs can be managed effectively and can become commercially feasible. By means of CIM technology, components can be made showing feature sizes >10 µm, aspect ratios <15, precision < 3 µm, surface roughness (Ra) < 0.2 µm; however, all these values are mainly influenced by the sintering process, the particle size, the feedstock viscosity, and the powder loading.