Abstract
This paper describes the metal injection molding of titanium powders using a high performance binder. A commercial titanium and a titanium hydride powders were processed by the injection molding. Acrylate, atactic-polypropylene and wax were used as the binder. The sintered specimen which was debinded in air had less defects than that debinded in argon gas. The densification process during sintering followed by using a thermal dilatometer clearly showed that densification behavior and the microstructure of sintered compacts were strongly affected by the sintering atmosphere. An acceleration of densification rate during sintring was observed in the case of titanium hydride powder compacts. The compacts with highest density were obtained by sintering in vacuum. On the other hand, the compacts sintered in nitrogen gas showed many defects such as cracks due to expansion. Compression tests were carried out on titanium and titanium hydride powder compacts sintered at 1300°C for 1hr in vacuum. Also, the microstructure of these compacts was observed. These compacts possess a higher strength but lower ductility than conventional wrought titanium.
