Volume 15, Number 3, 401-406, DOI: 10.1007/s00542-008-0673-5

Micro injection molding of micro gear using nano-sized zirconia powder

P. C. Yu, Q. F. Li, J. Y. H. Fuh, T. Li and P. W. Ho

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Abstract

Powder injection molding (PIM) is well established in macro molding. Scaling down to micro-PIM (μPIM) opens a new arena for cost effective production of micro components. One potential application is the manufacture of cutting tools with sharp edges for machining. However, scaling down to such a level produces challenges in raw material preparation, injection molding and thermal treatment. In this report, near dense (>98% of theoretical density) tensile bars and 3 mm micro gears were produced using 50 nm Yttria Tetragonal Zirconia Polycrystal (Y-TZP). The sintered gear teeth were well defined and visually defect free.

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