Abbreviation for Metal Injection Molding. MIM is a molding method that injects a plasticized mixture of metal powder its binder into a mold. It first mixes the selected powder with the binder, then granulates the mixture into the shape required for injection molding.

Metal injection molding (MIM) is a molding method that injects a plasticized mixture of metal powder its binder into a model. It first mixes the selected powder with the binder, then granulates the mixture into the shape required for injection molding. The polymer imparts its viscous flow characteristics to the mix, contributes to the uniformity of forming, cavity filling, powder filling. After forming, remove the binder sinter the degreased blank. Some sintered products may require further densification, heat treatment machining. Sintered products only have the same complex shape high precision as those obtained by plastic injection molding, but also have physical, chemical mechanical properties close to those of forgings. The process technology is suitable for large-scale production of small, precise, three-dimensionally complex metal parts with special performance requirements.

Metal injection molding can be traced back to the powder injection molding preparation of ceramic spark plugs that began in the 1920s. In the following decades, powder injection molding mainly focused on ceramic injection molding. It wasn't until 1979 that the metal injection molding products of Parmatech formed by Wiech others won two awards. At that time, Wiech Rivers were granted patents. Powder injection molding began to turn to metal injection molding.

In the past, due to the lack of suitable powders too high prices, incomplete knowledge platforms, immature technology, long time for people to understand accept the market, too long production (including mold manufacturing) cycles, insufficient investment, etc., their development application were relatively slow.

In order to solve the difficulties of MIM technology promote the practical application of MIM technology, in the mid-1980s, the United States formulated a plan for advanced powder work. The research content covered 18 topics related to injection molding. Subsequently, Japan, Germany, etc. also actively carried out the development research of MIM.

Wiech established Witec in 1980, Brunswick entered the MIM industry in 1982, acquired Witec, then gradually registered Omark Industries, Remington Military Products, Rocky Dental other subsidiaries. In 1986, the Japanese company Nippon Seison introduced the Wiech process. In 1990 Israel Metalor2000 company introduced Wiech process technology Parmatech Company established MIM production line.

With the continuous deepening of MIM research the development of new binders, continuous improvement of milling technology degreasing technology, industrialization has been realized by the early 1990s. After more than 20 years of efforts, MIM has become a new type of near-net-shape forming technology that has developed rapidly is most promising in the international powder metallurgy field.