Metal Injection Molding Materials

 MIM material is extensive like iron, high speed steel, stainless steel, tool steel, hard metal. In principle, all metals that can be sintered will be used as material to make parts, including those that hard to be machined and high melting point.

Maximum Flexibility-Verities Materials

MIM components black

The Metal Injection Molding (MIM) process provides the ability to manufacture a wide variety of materials with mechanical properties that are near equivalent or in some cases exceed wrought or cast process.

Harber Instrial Group provides a full range of MIM materials that are useful for a wide variety of applications. Low carbon and high alloy steels for case and through hardening requirements, a full range of austenitic, ferritic, martensitic and precipitation hardening stainless steels, titanium, soft magnetic alloys as well, Co and Ni base super alloys and select non-ferrous alloys. Many of these MIM materials can be heat treated to meet specific mechanical properties for the individual application. Post treatment option such as Hot Isostatic Pressing (HIP) can further enhance mechanical properties for the most demanding applications.

Varieties of materials for choosing-Capabilities

Due to our maturity of MIM technology, we have many kinds of material for choosing such as below, which have their own performance advantages and you could make your own decision.

1, MIM-4605

MIM-4605 is one of the most welcome material in MIM technology. It has wonderful intensity and extension. This material is widely used in Auto, handle tools, etc..

2, Stainless steel-304

Stainless steel-304 is one of the most welcome material in MIM technology. It is a Cr-Ni stainless 

steel, which has wonderful corrosion resistance and heat resistance. It is normally used below temperature 650C. It is an environmental material. Besides, it is easy to be machined.  

3, Stainless steel-316

Stainless steel-316 is one of the most welcome material in MIM technology. It has better air and industry corrosion resistance than 304. Discontinuity-use below temperature 871C(1600F) and continuity-use above 927C(1700), it has wonderful oxidative resistance. It is widely used in switches for paper making, shells, gun parts, lock parts etc..

4, Stainless steel-316L

Stainless steel-316L contains less carbon than 316. Compared with 316, it has better mechanical properties and performance. The material cost is higher than 316 as well.

5, Stainless steel-17-4 PH (After heat treatment)

17-4 PH (precipitation hardening grade) of stainless steel has nice corrosion resistance because of the low carbon content. A range of properties and hardness is achieved by modifying the aging temperature during heat treatment. It can meet the requirement of high lever of strength and hardness.

6, Stainless steel-17-4 PH (Annealing)

17-4 PH (precipitation hardening grade) of stainless steel offers a good balance between corrosion resistance and strength. It is harndenable to various strength levels by varying the heat treatment temperature. It has nice corrosion resistance because of the low carbon content. A range of properties and hardness is achieved by modifying the aging temperature during heat treatment. It is wide used for making parts 

Complex Shaped Parts

Harber MIM Group parts

For the ability to custom manufacture Metal Injection Molding materials to specific customer requirements Harber Instrial Group maintains and staffs a fully equipped development laboratory. With our metal powder suppliers, we work very closely to customize alloy chemistry specific to customer needs. We can quickly and inexpensively tailor material for an application with our in-house feedstock capability,. If you do not see standard material that suits your need, please ask us how we can help.

What is more, MIM technology can mix materials according to customers’ requirements so that to make various kinds of parts. MIM material powder is micron, so that it can be sintered and shrunk fast to increase the mechanical properties, extend the fatigue life. Also, it can improve the resistance to corrosion and magnetic performance. Regarding to the material too hard and complex shapes, easy being polluted, MIM can largely save cost. For instance, to make a typewriter element guide bar, normal technology needs 14 processes, but if use MIM, only need 6 processes and save 50% cost, the smaller parts the more benefit.

Click here to view the MIM Materials chart