5 facts about metal injection molding

Metal injection molding is used to manufacture a wide variety of small and complex products and parts. As with other injection molding processes, it involves injecting heated material into a mold to form a new object that is identical to the shape of the mold. While most other injection molding processes use rubber, plastic, or similar non-metals, metal injection molding is defined as the use of powder metal as the injection material.

1) The steel is heated to 2,552 degrees
In order for the metal injection molding to work, the metal material must first be heated enough to at least partially liquefy the corresponding metal. For example, steel is typically heated to 2,552 degrees Fahrenheit, of course only slightly above its melting point. When steel is smelted, it becomes a liquid that can be injected into the mold cavity.
2) The market is growing at a CAGR of 11%.
According to the data, from 2018 to 2023, metal injection molding is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11%. So, what is driving the growth of the metal injection market? Well, this is a very effective and efficient way to make small, complex products and components.
3) Injection "injection" must be less than 100 grams
While metal injection molding is cost-effective for high-volume production applications, there are some limitations on the size of the products and components used for manufacturing. For example, manufacturing companies can often only use this metalworking process to manufacture small products and parts. This is because injection "injection" (injection of liquefied metal into the mold) is limited to 100 grams.
4) It was invented in the 1950s
It wasn't until the 1990s that metal injection molding gained widespread attention and use, but the process itself originated in the 1950s. Around this time, Russian scientists published a paper in which they described a similar process, the only difference being that their process involved the use of heated ceramics instead of metals. In the following decades, metal dynamics were used as a substitute for ceramics, leading to metal injection molding.
5) It can reach densities of up to 99%.
Many factors affect the density of a product or part that is molded using metal injection molding. However, for products and components made of steel, the process can achieve densities of up to 99% – much higher than other metalworking processes. This is important because density affects the strength and durability of objects, and objects with higher densities are stronger and more durable than objects with lower density.