Abstract
The effect of process conditions on the microstructure and mechanical properties of SUS630 compacts made by metal injection molding were investigated. The compacts were made by injecting the mixture of gas-atomized SUS630 powder and polyamide binder into a metallic mold. The compacts were debound in air at 513K, 553K and 593K for 7.2ks, and sintered in vacuum at 1523K, 1573K and 1623K for 7.2ks. The carbon content of the sintered compacts was found to be controlled accurately by the debinding temperature. The microstructures of the sintered compacts varied with carbon content: they consisted of martensite and δ-ferrite at lower carbon content, and of martensite and austenite at higher carbon content. The mechanical properties also changed significantly with the carbon content.
