High-Speed Centrifugal Compaction Process is one of slip-using compacting method originally developed for processing of oxide ceramics. In this study, we apply the HCP to ultra-fine (0.1 micron) WC powder. Organic liquid of heptane was chosen as dispersing media to avoid possible oxidation of WC. The mixing apparatus was a key to obtain dense compacts. Only the slips mixed by high energy planetary ball mill were packed up to 55% by the HCP, and sintered to almost full density at 1673 K without any sintering aids. This sintered compact marked Vickers hardness of Hv 2750 at maximum.

Capping mechanisms during the compaction of pharmaceutical powders were explored. Both experimental and numerical investigations were performed. For the experimental study, an X-ray Computed Microtomography system has also used to examine the internal failure patterns of the tablets produced using a compaction simulator. Finite element (FE) methods have also been used to analyse the powder compaction. The experimental and numerical studies have shown that the shear bands developed at the early stage of unloading appear to be responsible for the occurrence of capping. It has also been found that the capping patterns depend on the compact shape.

High-Speed Centrifugal Compaction Process (HCP) is a wet compacting method, in which powders are compacted under a huge centrifugal force. The HCP was well applied to small alumina specimens, but the compact easily cracked when we applied the HCP to other materials. We clarified how the cracks introduced and found that the formation of such a flow pattern was related to the Colioli's force in the centrifugal field.

In a multi-action tooling system, which is usually used for the powder compaction process to fabricate the complex multilevel parts, crack formation is crucially detrimental and should be avoided. Among various process factors, tool shape is an important factor to prevent the crack formation during powder compaction process. In this work, the effects of different tool shapes were investigated through the experimental oberservation of pore distribution in real products and the finite element analysis of residual stresses. The results were interpreted based on non-uniform powder density in the compacted parts.

Processing and properties of high power piezoelectric transformer (PT) fabricated by PIM with nano-sized piezoelectric powders are demonstrated. The high power characteristics of a PMed dome-shaped PT were examined by the lighting test for a 55watt PL lamp. The 55watt PL lamp was successfully driven by the PIMed PT with sustaining efficiency higher than 98%. The transformer with ring/dot area ratio of 2.1 exhibited the maximum properties in terms of output power, efficiency and temperature stability.

The development of Micro MIM as a new manufacturing process for metallic micro parts made of advanced functional materials has been the subject of considerable research over the last years. This paper addresses important quality aspects on processing of new materials by Micro-MIM. Three examples of new functional materials that can be processed are reviewed in this paper. The first example is two-component-Micro-MIM to obtain multi-functional devices. A micro positioning encoder consisting of a magnetic / non-magnetic material combination is presented. The second issue is series production of the replicate of the smallest human bone in the ear (stapes) from Titanium as an example of medical application. Quality assurance and reproducibility in terms of injection moulding parameters are addressed. In the third part, first results on the processing of the shape memory alloy NiTi by Micro-MIM are presented. Potential applications include biocompatible devices and transportation, for example automotive and aerospace. Processing routes and initial microstructures obtained are discussed.

This study aims to investigate the usage of nano-scale particles in a micro metal injection molding (-MIM) process. Nanoscale particle is effective to improve transcription and surface roughness in small structure. Moreover, the effects of hybrid micro/nano particles, Cu/Cu and SUS/Cu were investigated. Small dumbbell specimens were produced using various feedstocks prepared by changing binder content and fraction of nano-scale Cu particle (0.3 and in particle size). The effects of adding the fraction of nano-scale Cu powder on the melt viscosity of the feedstock, microstructure, density and tensile strength of sintered parts were discussed.