Micro and Nano Fabrication by Powder Metallurgy

Angelo PC

Abstract

Powder Metallurgy (P/M) is recognized today as one of the most important near net shape fabrication techniques for manufacturing several industrial products. Recent advances in aerospace, automotive, bio-engineering, communications, computers and medical fields call for miniaturized components of complex shapes in metals and plastics due to the increasing demands for precision engineered components and systems. P/M process is well suited for manufacturing small and tiny components in large numbers especially by Powder Injection Moulding, an off-shoot of plastic injection moulding. In addition, other fabrication techniques such as, Micro powder injection moulding (μ PIM), Semisolid Powder Processing(SPP), Low pressure injection moulding (LPIM), Nano powder injection moulding (NPIM), Rapid Prototyping(RPT), Micro sacrificial plastic mould insert PIM (μ-SPiPIM), Copowder injection moulding (2C-PIM), Selective Laser Sintering(SLS), Selective Laser Melting(SLM), Laser Micro Sintering(LMS), Electron Beam Melting(EBM) and Nano Forging by FIB/SEM have been adopted to fabricate micro and nano sized components. This paper will discuss the above processes explaining the principle, the equipment used along with specific examples.