INJECTION-MOLDING OF BETA-TCP POWDER

Injection molding of beta-TCP powder was studied. Rod like test pieces (phi-6 x 50l) were produced by the injection molding using three powder-binder compound: (I) beta-TCP and several organic binders; (II) beta-TCP, alumina (3-9 wt%) and several organic binders; (III) beta-TCP, zirconia (3-9 wt%) and several organic binders. After the binder extraction process, the test pieces were heated up to 1000-degrees-C-1400-degrees-C at a rate of 100-degrees-C/h. The relative densities and bending strength of the sintered test pieces (I) (relative density: 99%, bending strength: 130 MPa, sintering temperature: 1200-degrees-C) in the absence alumina or zirconia were higher than that of the sintered test pieces (II, III) in the presence of alumina or zirconia.