Introduction to Ceramic Injection Molding and Its Advantages and Applications

Ceramic injection molding (CIM) is an advanced manufacturing technology that combines polymer injection molding with ceramic preparation techniques to produce small, complex, high-precision ceramic parts in near-net-shape form.

The basic process of ceramic injection molding involves mixing ceramic powder with an organic binder, heating it, and injecting it into a mold for forming. The binder is then removed and the final product is sintered at high temperature to produce a dense ceramic part.

Ceramic injection molded parts manufactured by Hunan Guoci

Ceramic Injection Molding (CIM) Process

The CIM process consists of four key steps, as shown in the flow chart below:
Feedstock preparation (ceramic powder + binder) --> Injection molding (injection into the mold cavity for molding) --> Debinding (binder removal) --> Sintering (high-temperature densification) --> Final product (high-precision complex ceramic part)

Core Advantages of CIM Technology
1. Superior Forming Capabilities: Parts with complex 3D geometries, tiny features, thin walls, deep holes, fine threads, and special-shaped surfaces can be molded in a single pass, far exceeding traditional methods such as dry pressing and isostatic pressing.
2. High Production Efficiency and Automation: Once the mold is developed, the molding cycle is short (tens of seconds per part), enabling fully automated, high-volume production at an extremely low cost per part.
3. Excellent Product Consistency and Dimensional Accuracy: The process is controlled by the machine and mold, resulting in extremely high product consistency, with dimensional accuracy typically reaching ±0.3% to ±0.5%.
4. Excellent Surface Finish: The green body surface quality is excellent, typically requiring no additional processing to meet application requirements. 5. High material utilization: Waste materials such as runners and gates can be recycled and reused, resulting in virtually no material waste.
6. Excellent mechanical properties: Due to the uniform green body density and high post-sintering density (typically >98% of theoretical density), the final product exhibits isotropic and excellent mechanical properties (strength and toughness).

Main Applications

CIM technology is ideally suited for manufacturing small, complex, high-precision, and high-volume ceramic parts. Its main applications include:

Applications	Typical products
Electronics and Semiconductors	Chip package bases/housings, fiber optic connector ferrules/sleeves, insulators, ceramic substrates
Industrial and Automation	Ceramic cutting tool handles, textile ceramic parts (wire guides), sandblasting nozzles, thermocouple protection tubes
Medical and Biological	Dental implants/orthopedic brackets, surgical instrument components, bone repair stents
Consumer Products	Watch cases/straps, jewelry, high-end cutlery handles, electronic product components
Automotive	Sensor housings (e.g., oxygen sensors), turbocharger rotors
Military and Aerospace	Missile fairings, small turbine flow path components, armor-piercing projectile cores