Two-component micro injection moulding is often considered to become a highly effective process for the series production of micro components from multi-functional materials. Nevertheless, beneath the common way of two-component injection moulding, i.e. merging two or more resins in one tool, a further method seems to be attractive: In-mould Labelling (IML). By this method a foil or tape containing metal or ceramic powders is fixed in an injection mould cavity and, subsequently, the PIM-feedstock is injected backwards. The resulting green bodies have to undergo debinding and sintering procedures appropriate for both materials so that a complex multilayer part is obtained. As the tapes might be printed, painted, or stamped before insertion a PIM body with various surface structures and/or functionalities can be achieved. Additionally, the tapes might be filled with extremely fine or even nano-powders so that surface qualities and shaping accuracy can be considerably increased.
