Molding of Meso Carbon Micro Beads by Powder Injection Molding Technology.

Abstract

The applicability of powder injection molding technology to the molding of meso carbon micro beads was studied. The green bodies produced by injection molding of meso carbon micro beads were sintered after thermal debinding in oxidizing (air) and nonoxidizing (N2) atmospheres. For the sintered body debound thermally in a nonoxidizing atmosphere, the density and bending strength were 1.433 Mg/m3 and 20.25MPa, respectively. For the sintered body debound thermally in an oxidizing atmosphere, they were 1.304Mg/m3 and 2.39MPa, respectively. When the green bodies produced by injection molding of meso carbon micro beads were debound thermally in air, carbon powder contained in the green bodies was oxidized. Because of this, the sintered body which debound thermally in an oxidizing atmosphere exhibited low density and bending strength as compared to those of the sintered body which debound thermally in a nonoxidizing atmosphere. When a polyamide was used in the fabrication of meso carbon micro beads, the sintered density and bending strength were 1.770Mg/m3 and 42.62MPa, respectively. KEY WORDS meso carbon micro beads, carbon powder, powder injection molding, debinding atmosphere