Degreasing / sintering furnace

     Degreasing and sintering process is to remove the binders and the spaces between the metal powders to create dense metal component. In this newsletter, it is introducing the degreasing, sintering furnace.

Furnace Types

       Furnaces used in the sintering process classified into 2 types; continuous furnaces and batch furnaces. Continuous furnaces are suitable for mass production of the same product because it takes time to start up and change the conditions. There is a comment that it is more difficult to control the atmosphere than a batch furnace however it has the advantage that the temperature variation is small.  On the other hand, batch furnaces are less productive compared with continuous furnaces, however, the energy consumption during idling being almost zero. It is the mainstream in to employ batch furnace in the metal injection moulding or MIM industry where the demand for various kinds in small quantities is increasing. In particular, it is indispensable for metal injection moulding or MIM production with high-performance materials with complicated sintering conditions since it is easier to control the temperature and atmosphere than continuous furnaces. 

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Role of degreasing and sintering furnace

     The degreasing furnace is used for removing the binder contained in the green part. The green part usually contains about 40% in volume of binder and generates a lot of volatiles at low temperature. Therefore, it is required relatively large gas flow and the exhaust line is a trapping the volatiles system. There is also a method to accelerate the degreasing reaction in an acidic atmosphere. In this case, a dedicated exhaust gas treatment device is installed. 

     It is called a brown part which most of the binder has been decomposed and removed through the degreasing process. In this brown part, the metal powders are bonded only by a small amount of residual resin, thus, very brittle and difficult to handling. The brown part is placed on a ceramic setter and delivered to the sintering furnace. 

     The sintering furnace is for obtaining a dense metal body. It is required to maintain a non-oxidizing atmosphere with high temperature uniformity. The sintering furnace is divided into two types, metal or carbon depending on the internal structure material. In metal-based furnace molybdenum is widely used in terms of melting point, vapour pressure, coefficient of thermal expansion, high-temperature strength, etc. On the other hand, carbon furnaces are cheaper and easier to operate than metal furnaces. 

μ-MIM degreasing and sintering technology

     In recent years, furnaces that combine the degreasing furnace and sintering furnace have become widespread in the metal injection moulding or MIM industry. The use of the integrated furnace eliminates the handling of the brown body and increases productivity. However, since degreasing and sintering are performed in the same space, it is important to properly treat organic substances that evaporate during the degreasing process.

     Micro MIM Japan Inc. and Taisei Kogyo Co., Ltd. have employed the originally developed integrated furnace since the beginning in the metal injection moulding or MIM business. Over 20 years of experience, we have been developed of sintering technology, such as material having very narrow process window.

COLUMN

     We have attended the MD&M exhibition in Anaheim, USA. It was almost always sunny outside outside and we had some great opportunities to contact new and existing customers from different countries. The next exhibition we will have a booth is at Micronora in Besancon, France between 22-25 September 2020. Please come to visit us!  

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