[15P-T13-01] Fabrication and Characterization of the Sintered Compact Using Water-Atomized Ferritic Stainless-Steel Powder by Metal Injection Molding
Keywords:Ni-less stainless steel , Metal injection molding, mirror-like surface
Austenitic stainless steel SUS304L and SUS316L are used in exterior parts of watches and clocks from the viewpoints of mirror-like surface and corrosion resistance. The austenitic stainless steel contains about 10 to 14 mass% Ni, which is a cause of metal allergy, and there has been a demand for Ni-free stainless steel that does not affect human skin while maintaining mirror finish and corrosion resistance. In sintered compacts made using the metal injection molding method, a dense layer with no inclusions is formed only 50 to 100 μm from the surface layer.Therefore, even if they are polished, microscopic pores are present on the surface, and a high-quality mirror-like surface couldn't be obtained.In this study, we investigated fabrication that reduces inclusions from the surface layer of Ni-free stainless steel and evaluated characterization of the sintered compacts.