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Have you ever wondered how a ceramic component can be manufactured to be a highly geometrically complex part? Well Morgan Technical Ceramics (MTC) Stourport has the answer with their Ceramic Injection Moulding (CIM) process.

MTC Stourport has a wide range of experience in mixing powders which are then compounded with thermoplastic binders to produce a homogenous pelletised feedstock.

Our process animation below shows the process.

Stage 1
Ceramic powders and organics are added to a special mixing device and intimately mixed together

Stage 2
The resultant mix is granulated and fed into an injection moulding machine

Stage 3
A ‘ram’ forces the ceramic into a ‘heated zone’ that liquifies the binder and allows the ceramic to flow under pressure into a mould

Stage 4
The mould and the formed ceramic component is cooled quickly to form a solid

Stage 5
The mould is split and the solid ceramic component is ejected

CIM Benefits

The CIM process provides an economic solution to highly complex design requirements as batch repeatability is not a problem!

MTC Stourport use a wide range of materials including 99.5% Alumina, Zirconia Toughened Alumina and Zyranox® Zirconia, all of which provide superior performance such as high hardness and mechanical strength, corrosion and wear resistance, high working temperatures and dimensionally stability.

The CIM process also provides a high surface finish so does not require any additional finishing processes.

Tools used for Success!

MTC Stourport use mould flow analysis to ensure every part satisfies customers’ exacting standards.

Mould flow analysis allows the part to be fully optimised by adjusting areas such as gate positions, cooling parameters and wall thickness.

They also use cavity sensors to monitor characteristics such as part weight, shorts and warp, dimensions, and flash. When deviations are detected and contained, the customer can be assured of receiving a high quality part.

Due to the multi million pound investment MTC Stourport has made in this technology, their technicians have the ability to work with customers from design through to manufacture to produce high quality, high finish products for many different applications.