Optimizing the sintering parameter of metal injection molding compact using robust engineering technique

Abstract

Sintering is a key step in the metal injection molding (MIM) process, which affects the mechanical properties of the sintered part. The mechanical properties of the sintered compacts are resulted from tremendous sintered part densification. This work utilizes robust engineering technique in optimizing sintering parameters of metal injection molding compacts. Three quality characteristics; shrinkage, density and flexure strength is optimized using Taguchi method-based grey analysis. The modified algorithm adopted here was successfully used for both detraining the optimum setting of the process parameters and for combining multiple quality characteristics into one integrated numerical value called grey relational grade. The sintering parameters investigated are: sintering temperature, sintering time, and heating rate. The result concluded that sintering time is the most significant for the combination of the quality characteristics.