Development of Glass Powder Processing: Powder Injection Molding & Press-sinter Process

Abstract

As a special technology of powder metallurgy, powder injection molding (PIM) is an important manufacturing technology for a net-shape production of both metal and ceramic components. In this work, glass components were fabricated by both PIM and press-sinter technology using plasma display panel (PDP) glass powder. Also, for the sintered specimen, hot isostatic pressing (HIP) process was carried out as a post-process aimed at improving its mechanical and optical properties. In general, this work mainly consists of three parts. Firstly, the PIM process for fabricating glass component was developed including mixing, injection molding, debinding and sintering. Second one is that by press-sinter and HIP process the effects of sintering temperature, sintering atmosphere and HIP process on the final mechanical, thermal and optical properties of sintered PDP glass bodies were investigated through analyzing their bending strength, thermal expansion coefficient, transmittance and micro structures.