1、 Overview of MIM Technology and Characteristics of Titanium Alloys
Metal Injection Molding (MIM) is a new type of powder metallurgy near net forming technology that combines modern plastic injection molding technology with traditional powder metallurgy processes. MIM technology can achieve highly precise and complex part manufacturing. Compared to traditional manufacturing methods, MIM technology has higher production efficiency and lower costs, which can greatly reduce material waste and improve resource utilization efficiency. It can also flexibly produce various shapes and specifications of parts through mold design and adjustment, achieving customized production. It is suitable for the production of small and complex internal structural parts.

Image: Ti MIM Shape Example Produced by Element 22 GmbH
2、 Advantages and Challenges

Image: Characteristics of titanium powder used for metal injection molding
Titanium alloys are increasingly being used in the manufacturing of high-performance components due to their excellent strength to weight ratio, corrosion resistance, and biocompatibility. MIM technology is meeting the demand for high-performance components in various industries by producing complex shaped and high-precision titanium alloy parts. The surface activity of titanium alloy powder is high, making it easy to sinter and densify, which is crucial for improving the mechanical properties of MIM products.
The advantage of MIM technology is that it can mass produce complex shaped metal parts with high material utilization and minimal waste. However, there are some challenges in the development of MIM titanium technology, such as high price and insufficient supply of low oxygen spherical titanium alloy powder, uniformity of feeding preparation, deformation and cracking of products during degreasing process, and shrinkage control during sintering process. These problems need to be solved by optimizing process parameters and improving materials.
3、 Application Fields
01/Aerospace field
Titanium alloys have important applications in the aerospace industry due to their high specific strength and corrosion resistance. MIM technology can manufacture titanium alloy components with complex shapes and lightweight, such as aircraft engine blades, structural brackets, and connectors. These components are not only lightweight, but also have excellent mechanical and fatigue resistance, effectively improving the overall performance and safety of the aircraft.

Image: Titanium alloy turbine engine blades
02/Medical device field
Titanium alloy has good biocompatibility and corrosion resistance, making it an ideal material for medical device manufacturing. Through MIM technology, complex shaped titanium alloy medical components can be produced, such as surgical handles, scissors, forceps, orthopedic joint parts, dental implants, etc. The elastic modulus of titanium alloy is particularly close to that of human bones (10-30 GPa). After being implanted into the human body, the components can not only bond well with human tissues, but also maintain excellent mechanical properties and corrosion resistance for a long time. It is currently the most outstanding biomaterial.

Image: Titanium alloy dental implant
03/High end manufacturing field
MIM titanium alloy technology also has wide applications in high-end manufacturing fields such as precision instruments, automotive industry, etc., such as automotive turbocharger components, internal combustion engine and gas turbine rotating and vibrating components. These components not only have superior performance, but also can significantly reduce manufacturing costs and improve production efficiency. The United States has used Ti-6Al-2Sn-4Zn-2Mo titanium alloy to manufacture automotive intake and exhaust valves, which not only reduces vehicle weight and extends valve life, but also improves vehicle speed.
04/Consumer Electronics Field
Titanium alloy injection molding has been widely used in the electronic 3C industry. Apple has been using MIM components since 2010 and continues to expand and lead the use of MIM. The successful application of MIM components such as power interface components, card holders, camera rings, and buttons on mobile phones has achieved the leading position of Chinese MIM enterprises in the field of consumer electronics. With the development of consumer electronics products such as smartphones and smart wearables towards greater thinness, the core components of these products will also become more precise and complex. In this context, the application prospects of MIM technology will become increasingly broad.
4、 Future Development Trends
With the development of technology, MIM titanium alloy technology will continue to improve, such as developing new high-performance titanium alloy powder materials and new titanium based composite materials; Improve the uniformity and stability of feeding; Optimize degreasing and sintering processes to reduce deformation and cracking of products; Apply advanced computer simulation technology to precisely control the shrinkage and dimensional accuracy of products. These technological improvements will further enhance the performance and quality of titanium alloy MIM products, and broaden their application fields. At the same time, with the development of personalized and intelligent manufacturing, titanium alloy MIM technology will also usher in new opportunities: by combining 3D printing technology with MIM technology, personalized titanium alloy components can be quickly manufactured to meet the special needs of different customers; By introducing intelligent manufacturing technology, the automation and intelligence of MIM production process can be achieved, improving production efficiency and product quality.
In the future, green manufacturing will become an important trend for development. Titanium alloy MIM technology should focus on environmental protection and sustainable development, such as developing non-toxic and harmless binders, reducing harmful gas emissions during degreasing and sintering processes, and achieving the recycling of waste titanium alloy products. These measures will help promote the green development of MIM technology for titanium alloys, achieving a win-win situation of economic and environmental benefits.
Conclusion
Titanium alloy injection molding technology is rapidly developing in various high-performance component manufacturing fields, meeting the market's demand for high-quality, complex shaped, and low-cost parts through continuous progress in technological innovation, process optimization, and green manufacturing. With the development of new materials and the application of digital intelligent manufacturing, the prospects of titanium alloy MIM technology will be even broader, bringing more application opportunities and development space to multiple industries.