2-D simulation of wick debinding for ceramic parts in close proximity

In wick debinding the binder phase is removed from an injection moulded ceramic part by the capillary action of a wicking powder. The binder is withdrawn in the liquid phase in the form of a front, and fronts originating from parts in close proximity may collide, thereby reducing the potential for the binder to be extracted by the capillarity of the wicking powder. The model presented by Somasundram et al. (2008) is employed here to simulate isothermal debinding of cylindrical parts located in close proximity, using the level-set method to track the progress of binder fronts. Two-dimensional cases were simulated using a commercial finite element solver and the results are compared with preliminary experimental results which show the potential of the model and demand further experimental investigation. A simplified model is also presented which encapsulates the main features of the detailed model for simple geometries.