Powder injection molding of Ti–6Al–4V alloy

An improved wax-based binder was developed for the powder injection molding of Ti–6Al–4V. A critical powder loading of 72 vol% and a pseudo-plastic flow behavior were obtained by the feedstock based on the binder. The injection molding, debinding and sintering processes were studied. An ideal control of carbon and oxygen contents was achieved by thermal debinding in vacuum atmosphere (10−3 Pa). The mechanical properties of as-sintered specimens were almost equivalent to those of the same alloy made by conventional press–sintering process. Good shape retention and ±0.02 mm dimension deviation were achieved.