Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Development and characterization of AISI 316L micro parts produced by metal powder hot embossing

  • ORIGINAL ARTICLE
  • Published:
The International Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Technology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Metal powder hot embossing (MPHE) is a low-cost micromanufacturing technique that can produce metallic parts with aspects in micron scale. In this study, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) is employed for evaluating the shape retention and the homogeneity of microstructure of replicated geometries into AISI 316L powder feedstock by the secondary electron imaging (SEI) and the backscattered electron imaging modes, the distribution of chemical composition by the electron-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) mapping, and grain structures by the electron backscatter diffraction technique. Moreover, the SEI and EDS techniques completed the failure analysis of tensile tests. Nanoindentations were also performed to assist phase identification analysis in the densified microstructure. Different geometries in the micron scale (micro wall half-reservoirs, micro channel half-flanges, convex and concave micro gear configurations, and micro tensile specimens) were selected for replication. Shaping limitations were attributed to the geometry, convex or concave, and the stiffness of the die. Micro gear and micro wall configurations were shaped using a stiffer elastomer (T = 230 °C and P = 11.3 to 14 MPa for 45 min) and a metallic die (T = 170 °C and P = 11.3 MPa for 10 min), respectively. The shaping of concave geometries was achieved regardless of the metal powder concentration, 60 and 65 vol.%. Densified parts retained the replicated micro configurations after long periods of thermal debinding and sintering, with densification above 95%. The chemical composition in sintered parts was homogeneous. The microstructure was principally composed of austenitic grains. The 316L stainless steel sintered part produced through MPHE presented an ultimate tensile strength of 458 ± 15 MPa, similar to that of a wrought AISI 316L alloy; the fracture type in the micro tensile specimen was ductile.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12

Similar content being viewed by others

Data availability

Not applicable.

References

  1. Heckele M, Bacher W, Muller KD (1998) Hot embossing - the moulding technique for plastic microstructures. Microsyst Technol 4(3):122–124. https://doi.org/10.1007/s005420050112

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Sequeiros EW, Emadinia O, Vieira TF, Vieira MF (2020) Development of metal powder hot embossing: a new method for micromanufacturing. Metals 10(3). https://doi.org/10.3390/met10030388

  3. Rota A, Duong TV, Hartwig T (2002) Micro powder metallurgy for the replicative production of metallic microstructures. Microsyst Technol 8(4-5):323–325. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00542-002-0157-y

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Fu G, Tor S, Loh N, Hardt D (2009) Micro hot embossing of 316L stainless steel micro structures. Appl Phys A Mater Sci Process 97(4):925–931. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00339-009-5363-3

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Sahli M, Gelin JC, Barriere T (2013) Characterisation and replication of metallic micro fluidic devices using three different powders processed by hot embossing. Powder Technol 246:284–302. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.powtec.2013.05.026

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Sahli M, Millot C, Gelin JC, Barrière T (2010) Development and characterization of polymers-metallic hot embossing process for manufacturing metallic micro parts. In: AIP Conference Proceedings, pp 677–682. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3552526

  7. Sequeiros EW, Neto VC, Vieira MT, Vieira MF (2014) Hot micro embossing: effect of pressure on 316L metal parts. Powder Metall 57(4):241–244. https://doi.org/10.1179/0032589914z.000000000193

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Emadinia O, Vieira MT, Vieira MF (2020) Micro powder hot embossing of aluminum feedstock. J Mater Eng Perform 29(5):3395–3403. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11665-020-04869-9

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Zhang J, Gelin J-C, Sahli M, Barrière T (2013) Manufacturing of 316L stainless steel die mold by hot embossing process for microfluidic applications. J Micro Nanomanuf 1(4):041003. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4025554

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Zhang J, Sahli M, Gelin JC, Barriere T (2015) Rapid replication of metal microstructures using micro powder hot embossing process. Int J Adv Manuf Technol 77(9-12):2135–2149. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00170-014-6595-8

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Sequeiros EW, Ferreira TJ, Neto VC, Vieira MT, Vieira MF (2015) Microstructural characterization of metallic parts produced by hot embossing. Microsc Microanal 21(S5):49–50. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1431927615014051

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Sahli M, Gelin JC, Barriere T (2015) Replication of microchannel structures in WC-Co feedstock using elastomeric replica moulds by hot embossing process. Mater Sci Eng C 55:252–266. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.msec.2015.05.019

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Sequeiros EW, Vieira MT, Vieira MF (2017) Micro hot embossing of metallic powder as a route to manufacture steel mould inserts - In search of optimizing process parameters. In: Euro PM2017 Proceedings: Tools for Improving PM, European Powder Metallurgy Association

  14. Cahill EM, Keaveney S, Stuettgen V, Eberts P, Ramos-Luna P, Zhang N, Dangol M, O'Cearbhaill ED (2018) Metallic microneedles with interconnected porosity: a scalable platform for biosensing and drug delivery. Acta Biomater 80:401–411. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actbio.2018.09.007

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Loh NH, Tor SB, Tay BY, Murakoshi Y, Maeda R (2008) Fabrication of micro gear by micro powder injection moulding. Microsyst Technol 14(1):43–50. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00542-007-0401-6

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Piotter V (2012) Micro metal injection mouling. In: (MicroMIM) In: Heany DF (ed) Handbook of metal injection moulding, 2nd edn. Woodhead Publishing, pp 307–337

  17. Tay B, Loh NH, Tor SB, Ng FL, Fu G, Lu XH (2009) Characterisation of micro gears produced by micro powder injection moulding. Powder Technol 188(3):179–182. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.powtec.2008.04.047

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Sequeiros EW, Vieira MT, Vieira MF (2012) Hot embossing: effect of parameters process on replicated 316L metal structures. In: Euro PM2012 Proceedings: PM Applications and New Processes - PM Miniaturization and Nanotechnology, European Powder Metallurgy Association

  19. Kuo CC, Zhuang BC (2014) A simple and low-cost method to the development of a micro featured mold insert for micro hot embossing. Indian J Eng Mater Sci 21(5):487–494

    Google Scholar 

  20. Emadinia O, Vieira MT, Vieira MF (2018) Feedstocks of aluminum and 316L stainless steel powders for micro hot embossing. Metals 8(12). https://doi.org/10.3390/met8120999

  21. Sequeiros EW (2014) Microfabricação de componentes metálicos por microgravação. PhD thesis, University of Porto.

  22. Bakan HI, Jumadi Y, Messer PF, Davies HA, Ellis B (1998) Study of processing parameters for MIM feedstock based on composite PEG-PMMA binder. Powder Metall 41(4):289–291. https://doi.org/10.1179/pom.1998.41.4.289

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Sahli M, Gelin JC (2013) Development of a feedstock formulation based on polypropylene for micro powder soft embossing process of 316L stainless steel micro channel part. Int J Adv Manuf Technol 69(9-12):2139–2148. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00170-013-5170-z

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Meththananda IM, Parker S, Patel MP, Braden M (2009) The relationship between shore hardness of elastomeric dental materials and Young’s modulus. Dent Mater 25(8):956–959. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dental.2009.02.001

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Editorial Feature (2004) Stainless steel - grade 316L - properties, fabrication and applications (UNS S31603). AZo Materials. https://www.azom.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=2382. Accessed 16 December 2020. https://www.azom.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=2382. Accessed 29/02/2020

  26. Jang JM, Lee W, Ko SH, Han C, Choi H (2015) Oxide formation in metal injection molding of 316L stainless steel. Arch Metall Mater 60(2):1281–1285. https://doi.org/10.1515/amm-2015-0114

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to express their thanks from INEGI for providing elastomer dies, CEMUP (Centro de Materiais da Universidade do Porto) for assistance with SEM, and IPN (Instituto Pedro Nunes) for IFM and Shore A measurements.

Funding

This work was supported by the FEDER (Fundo Europeu de Desenvolvimento Regional) that funded the COMPETE program (Programa Operacional Factores de Competitividade) and through the PD-BD-52674 2014 grant and the UID/EMS/00285/2019 project funded by FCT (Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia), Portuguese public agency.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465, Porto, Portugal

    Omid Emadinia & Manuel Fernando Vieira

  2. LAETA/INEGI, Institute of Science and Innovation in Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465, Porto, Portugal

    Omid Emadinia & Manuel Fernando Vieira

  3. CEMMPRE, Centre for Mechanical Engineering, Materials and Processes, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Coimbra, Pinhal de Marrocos, 3030-788, Coimbra, Portugal

    Maria Teresa Vieira

Authors
  1. Omid Emadinia
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Maria Teresa Vieira
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Manuel Fernando Vieira
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

O.E. in methodology, investigation, validation, visualization, and writing draft; M.T.V. in conceptualization, validation, funding acquisition, and revision; and M.F.V. in conceptualization, supervision, validation, funding acquisition, and revision.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Omid Emadinia.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no competing interests.

Code availability

Not applicable.

Additional information

Publisher’s note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Emadinia, O., Vieira, M.T. & Vieira, M.F. Development and characterization of AISI 316L micro parts produced by metal powder hot embossing. Int J Adv Manuf Technol 113, 407–417 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00170-021-06662-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00170-021-06662-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation