A new lubricant based binder system for feedstock formulation from HDH-Ti powder

摘要

This study reported the preparation of homogeneous hydride-dehydride (HDH) titanium metal injection moulding (Ti-MIM) feedstocks using solvent mixing. The research emphasis was on the development of a binder system for producing higher solid loadings for the irregular HDH titanium powder feedstocks. Homogeneous mixing and solid loading are the factors that strongly influence the final product properties. Solvent mixing provides an excellent alternative to the commonly used hot mixing and emulsion mixing. Due to its natural irregular shape of HDH-Ti powder, the feedstock, which is injection mouldable, usually has a lower solid loading than that of spherical powder. In this study, Ti-MIM feedstocks were prepared using polyethylene glycol (PEG) as the primary binder component, polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) as the backbone component and a new lubricant. The binder and metal powders were mixed in acetone and then vacuum dried. Scanning electron microscopic (SEM) analysis, rheometry tests and torque measurements were performed subsequently. (C) 2016 The Society of Powder Technology Japan. Published by Elsevier B.V. and The Society of Powder Technology Japan. All rights reserved.