Metal Injection Molded Titanium: Mechanical Properties of Debinded Powder and Sintered Metal

Metal injection molding (MIM) is a production technique to produce small and complex titanium part. During debinding, the elements of binder may react with titanium powders, form the interstitial elements and influence the mechanical properties of sintered part. Accordingly, the chemical composition and hardness properties of commercially pure titanium, which produced by metal injection molding process, were investigated and compared with wrought commercially pure titanium. Carbon and oxygen from binder were diffused into the titanium powder during the process of debinding, i.e., the contents of carbon and oxygen and the nanoindentation hardness at the edge of powder are higher than at center of powder. After sintering, the interstitial elements formed around the pores of sintered part, which caused the higher nanoindentation hardness than that of the matrix. The yield strength and the ultimate tensile strength of sintered part were also improved because of the interstitial elements. The findings can be applied for the production, usage and development of MIM titanium.