Surface engineering by powder coinjection moulding

Intricately shaped surface engineered components have been produced using the technique of powder coinjection moulding. Powder coinjection moulding is the combi nation of two processing methods, polymer sandwich moulding and powder injection moulding, and has been used to produce metal or ceramic surface engineered components using several model material systems. Surface engineering was achieved by the addition of rigid non-sinterable particles or alloying particles. Modelling of the coinjection moulding process using a commercial finite element computer program, C-Mold, has demonstrated the ability to predict the skin thickness and distribution as a function of processing conditions and material properties. The ability to engineer surfaces as part of the powder injection moulding cycle provides a further incentive for the additional exploitation of the powder injection moulding process.