Home > Articles > All Issues > 2018 > Volume 7, No. 4, July 2018 >

Properties and Rheological Behavior of Nano-Sized Cemented Carbide Injection Molding Feedstocks with Different Percentages of Grain Growth Inhibitor

Prathabrao Muniandy 1, Sri Yulis M Amin 2, and Mohd Halim Irwan Ibrahim 2
1. Advanced Manufacturing & Material Center (AMMC) Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia, 86400, Parit Raja, Batu Pahat, Johor, Malaysia
2. Department of Engineering Mechanics, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia, Parit Raja, Johor, Malaysia

Abstract—A homogenous distribution of powder particles and binders in metal injection molding (MIM) feedstock, and good flowability, are important characteristics as these help to reduce powder-binder separation and achieve isotropic reduction after sintering. To avoid problems in these areas, this paper focuses on determining feedstock properties and studying the effect of TaC powder as a grain growth inhibitor on the rheological behavior of MIM feedstock. A raw material of WC-6%Co, together with palm stearin and a polyethylene binder system, was used as feedstock, tailored with different TaC loadings of 0.4%, 0.8%, and 1.2% by weight. The homogenous feedstock, mixed by ball milling and with a Brabender mixer, was subjected to rheology testing at different temperatures. The results indicated that all feedstock formulations exhibited good pseudoplastic behavior within acceptable ranges in MIM, with a TaC content of 0.8 wt% giving the optimum rheological properties.

Index Terms—MIM, feedstock, rheology, grain growth inhibitor

Cite: Prathabrao Muniandy, Sri Yulis M Amin, and Mohd Halim Irwan Ibrahim, "Properties and Rheological Behavior of Nano-Sized Cemented Carbide Injection Molding Feedstocks with Different Percentages of Grain Growth Inhibitor," International Journal of Mechanical Engineering and Robotics Research, Vol. 7, No. 4, pp. 338-342, July 2018. DOI: 10.18178/ijmerr.7.4.338-342