Effect of Polyvinylpyrrolidone Content on Pure Titanium Injection Molding

Abstract

In water-soluble binder systems, polyethylene glycol (PEG) and polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) are often used as primary and secondary components. The PEG/PMMA binder system is clean and environmentally friendly, but the discrepancy between the crystallization temperature of PEG and the glass transition temperature of PMMA leads to the generation of pores in the feedstock. The solidification pores have an adverse impact on the final mechanical properties of the samples. Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), as a crystallization inhibitor, can inhibit the formation of porosity. In this study, spherical titanium powder with a diameter of less than 45 μm was used as metal powder; the binder system consisted of PEG, PMMA and SA. Different increments of PVP (0, 10%, 20%, 30 wt.%) were added to the PEG/PMMA binder system. The uniformity of the feedstock and the open channels generated after debinding were observed using SEM. The pores’ condition before and after debinding was studied using Micro CT, and the mechanical properties of the samples were also detected. By comparing the macroscopic and microscopic morphologies of the injected samples and mechanical properties of the sintered samples, it was found that a PVP content of 20 wt.% resulted in the best properties.

Keywords

• metal injection molding
• water-soluble binder
• crystallization inhibitor
• morphology
• mechanical properties