First of all, there is no injection molding process for metal.
The injection molding process is a processing technology for the molding of clinker parts. People outside the industry may confuse metal injection with injection molding. In fact, in the metal molding process, the metal injection process is similar to the injection molding process of plastic parts. Both produce parts by injecting high pressure into the mold. The process name is (Metal Injection Molding, MIM). This is an advanced manufacturing method that combines plastic injection molding technology with powder metallurgy. It is suitable for producing small metal parts with high precision and complex shapes. The following are its core features:
Metal Injection Molding (MIM) Process
Raw material preparation: Mix micron-grade metal powder (such as stainless steel, titanium alloy, copper, etc.) with thermoplastic binder to form a “feed”.
Injection molding: Heat the feed to a semi-molten state and inject it into the mold under high pressure to form a “green billet” consistent with the design.
Degreasing: Remove the binder through solvent or thermal decomposition, leaving only the metal skeleton.
Sintering: Sintering at high temperature (close to the melting point of the metal) to densify the particles and obtain a high-density, high-strength finished product.
Advantages and applicable scenarios
Complex geometry: can form thin walls, threads, porous and other complex structures that are difficult to achieve with traditional processing.
High precision: dimensional tolerance can reach ±0.3%-0.5%, reducing the need for subsequent machining.
Material diversity: supports a variety of metals/alloys such as stainless steel, cemented carbide, and magnetic materials.
Batch and efficient: suitable for mass production of small precision parts (such as gears, medical devices, and electronic connectors), size restrictions: the weight of a single piece is usually less than 100 grams, and oversized parts are prone to deformation.
Of course, if your product requires micro-precision metal parts, metal injection molding (MIM) is an ideal choice.
Then die casting is currently a more common and mature casting process. Die casting refers to a casting method in which molten or semi-molten metal is injected into a metal mold at high speed and crystallized under pressure, referred to as die casting. Below is an intuitive comparison of the two processes:
Applicable scenario comparison:
Die casting: automotive engine housing, gearbox, consumer electronics housing (such as laptop computer frame).
MIM: micro gears, surgical instruments, gun parts, smart watch buckles, high-precision connectors.
Mulan Metal is a professional Chinese foundry located in Shanghai, with 12 years of OEM casting experience, a 5,800 square meter factory, and serves customers in more than 30 countries. With complete certificates, it can meet the customized needs of customers from different countries.
Here is our OEM castings Display：
