Abstract: A composition and a method for powder injection moulding are provided. The composition includes a powder and a binder. The binder includes an alkane-based primary main binder and a multifunctional secondary main binder. The alkane-based primary main binder composes 20 mass % or more of the binder. The multifunctional secondary main binder is at least partially soluble in the alkane-based primary binder, is soluble in water, is thermally evaporable, possesses a dispersant functionality towards the powder, and increases a feedstock viscosity of the composition at a near zero feedstock shear rate.

Abstract: The present invention belongs to the field of technology known as powder injection moulding. It includes producing a part by powder injection moulding at low to high injection pressure and it discloses a novel binder system for optimized feedstock design. The primary subject matter of the invention resides in introducing a secondary main binder into the feedstock binder composition, meeting, simultaneously, the five (5) following criteria: partially soluble in the primary binder, soluble in water, thermally evaporable, possessing a dispersant functionality and increasing the viscosity at near zero feedstock shear rate. In addition to this binder, the feedstock may contain a small fraction of another dispersant and a back-bone polymer when needed, depending on the type of powder material used for the feedstock. Based on the main modes of binder removal (thermal or water extraction) this novel binder system is denominated as Te-Wex™ system.