Development And Characterization Of Rich-alumina Porcelain Parts Processed By CIM

Ceramic Injection Moulding (CIM) has drawn much attention in recent times due to the industry demands of large batches of complex shaped ceramic components. However the variety of commercial ceramic feedstocks is limited, and its price is considerably high. In this context, we have designed new feedstock formulations according to the mechanical properties and competitive price required by customers.

Specifically, a porcelain with high content of alumina has been mixed with a binder system based on low viscosity thermoplastics compounds. The optimum mixture selected from rheological studies has been successfully injected. Finally, the optimization of the entire CIM chain (debinding and sintering process) for this composition has resulted in high density final pieces of low cost porcelain with bending strength values as high as 200 MPa.