Grantee Research Project Results
Final Report: Metal Injection Molding to Prevent Pollution from Automotive and Steel Industry
EPA Contract Number: 68D98144Title: Metal Injection Molding to Prevent Pollution from Automotive and Steel Industry
Investigators: Yadav, Tapesh
Small Business: Nanomaterials Research Corporation
EPA Contact: Richards, April
Phase: I
Project Period: September 1, 1998 through March 1, 1999
Project Amount: $70,000
RFA: Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) - Phase I (1998) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Nanotechnology , SBIR - Pollution Prevention , Pollution Prevention/Sustainable Development , Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)
Summary/Accomplishments (Outputs/Outcomes):
Metals and alloys and key materials for the U.S. and world economy. These range from commodity materials such as low carbon steels to high value-added materials such as titanium-based superalloys. There are numerous applications in the automotive, heavy machinery, aircraft, and sporting goods industries for metal components. The extensive use of metals is due to the excellent combination of properties such as strength, fracture toughness, corrosion resistance (e.g., stainless steel), hardness, and wear resistance. Unfortunately, metal components require a significant amount of processing to get the desired final shape, surface finish, and mechanical properties. Some examples of these processes include forging, milling, cutting, welding, polishing, coating, and finishing. These processes are undesirable for two primary reasons: (1) increase cost, and (2) produce significant quantities of metal waste. The innovation of the current program seeks to reduce the amount of metal waste that is generated by developing a metal powder injection molding technology with nanoscale powders. The advantage of the nanoscale powders include an increase in the properties of the finished part, as well as an improvement in the processing of the components. This Phase I program has successfully synthesized nanocrystalline stainless steel powders (316L, 17-4PH).These powders have been compounded into feedstock material with a novel binder and injection molded into a variety of different shapes. These components have been de-bound and sintered to high final densities. The novel binder system eliminates the need for toxic solvents (e.g., heptane) during the de-binding process, and reduces airborne pollution associated with the normal binder decomposition.
Journal Articles:
No journal articles submitted with this report: View all 58 publications for this projectSupplemental Keywords:
Scientific Discipline, Air, Water, Sustainable Industry/Business, air toxics, cleaner production/pollution prevention, Wastewater, Technology for Sustainable Environment, New/Innovative technologies, Chemistry and Materials Science, Engineering, Chemistry, & Physics, automotive supply chain, air pollutants, cleaner production, air pollution, hazardous waste, emissions, alternative materials, alternative technology, alloy powders, innovative technology, nanoscale metal powders, innovative technologies, air emissions, coatings, industrial innovations, pollution preventionThe perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.