Characterization of metallic micro rod arrays fabricated by μMIM

In this paper, two sets of arrays of 24 × 24 316L stainless steel micro rods of ϕ100 and ϕ80 μm are replicated on ϕ15 mm substructures by injection molding, debinding and sintering through micro metal injection molding. The microstructure, shrinkage, porosity and Vickers microhardness of the micro rod and the substructure of the as-sintered micro-component are characterized. Shrinkage in the micro rod is near isotropic but is higher than the substructure on which micro rods are located. Lower porosity is also observed concomitantly on the micro rod. Similar microhardness values are measured on the polished cross-sections of the substructures on which the ϕ100 and ϕ80 μm micro rod arrays are located but differing values are measured on the cross-sections of the two micro rods.