Advanced Powder Products, Inc.
301 Enterprise Drive
Philipsburg, PA 16866
(814) 342-5898
Metal injection molding (MIM) is a proven manufacturing process that combines the design flexibility of plastic injection molding with the strength and performance of metal.
Unlike plastic, MIM parts are engineered with true metal properties, making them ideal for structural and high-performance applications in medical, military, aerospace, industrial, and automotive industries.
The key ingredient in the metal injection molding process is the feedstock—a specialized blend of fine metal powders and thermoplastic binders. This material is formed into precise, complex components through injection into a molding machine, followed by debinding and high-temperature sintering. The result? High-density, net-shape metal parts with excellent mechanical properties, surface finish, tight tolerances, and dimensional accuracy. MIM excels at creating parts with complex geometry and consistent quality.
MIM also provides broad flexibility in alloy selection. As long as the alloy has a sufficiently high melting point to survive the sintering process and the metal powder can be manufactured to a fine enough particle size, it can likely be used in MIM. This includes a wide range of steels, refractory metals, magnetic alloys, and hard metals. However, lower-melting-point materials such as aluminum and zinc are typically excluded from the MIM process due to thermal limitations.
At Advanced Powder Products (APP), we know that choosing the right material is critical to the success of your part. Our metallurgical expertise and proprietary MIM feedstock solutions ensure your components meet demanding performance requirements while maintaining cost-efficiency.
Our metal powder feedstock is engineered for performance. APP formulates feedstocks by mixing ultra-fine metal particles with wax and polymer binders. The blend is pelletized and injection molded into “green parts,” then debound and sintered to achieve final density and shape.
Whether you're launching a new part or transferring an existing mold, APP can support both proprietary and industry-standard feedstock systems, including BASF/Catamold®. All of our MIM feedstock solutions are based on metallurgical science and optimized for consistency, strength, and performance.
MIM offers unmatched versatility in materials selection. With the ability to achieve high-density, precision-shaped metal parts, MIM is the preferred method for producing components that demand both performance and complexity.
Our customers choose MIM alloys based on desired mechanical properties, corrosion resistance, magnetic behavior, bio-compatibility, or load capacity. APP manufactures and stocks a comprehensive range of MIM materials, including stainless steels, low alloy steels, tool steels, soft-magnetic alloys, and specialty metals. These are ideal for:
APP supports a broad portfolio of metal injection molding materials to meet the diverse requirements of your parts. Our MIM alloy options include:
| Material Family | Application | Specific Alloys | Specific Feature | ||||||||
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| Stainless Steel | Medical, electronic, hardware, sporting goods, aerospace, consumer products |
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| Low-alloy Steel | Hardware, bearings, races, consumer goods, machine parts |
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| Tool Steel | Wood and metal cutting tools |
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| Bioimplantable | Implantable, Prosthetic replacements (hips, knees, etc.) bone plates, screws, rods, heart valves |
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| Titanium | Medical, aerospace, consumer products |
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| Copper | Electronic, thermal management |
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| Magnetic | Electronic solenoids, armatures, relay |
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| Tungsten | Military, electronic, sporting goods |
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| Hardmetals | Cutting and wear applications |
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| Stainless Steel | |
| Applications | |
| Medical, electronics, hardware, sporting goods, aerospace, consumer products | |
| Specific Alloys & Features | |
| 17-4PH | Strength, heat treatable |
| 316L | Corrosion resistance, ductility, nonmagnetic |
| 420, 440C | Hardness, wear resistance, heat treatable |
| 310 | Corrosion and heat resistance |
| Low-Alloy Steel | |
| Applications | |
| Hardware, bearings, braces, consumer goods, machine parts | |
| Specific Alloys & Features | |
| 1000 Series | Case pardonable |
| 4000 Series | General purpose |
| 52100 | High wear resistance |
| Tool Steel | |
| Applications | |
| Wood and metal cutting tools | |
| Specific Alloys & Features | |
| 1000 Series | Case pardonable |
| 4000 Series | General purpose |
| 52100 | High wear resistance |
| Bioimplantable | |
| Applications | |
| Implantable, Prosthetic replacements (hips, knees, etc.), bone plates, screws, rods, heart valves | |
| Specific Alloys & Features | |
| F-75 (ASTM F2886) | High strength, superior corrosion resistance, non-magnetic, biocompatibility |
| MP35N (ASTM F562) | |
| 52100 | High wear resistance |
| Titanium | |
| Applications | |
| Medical, aerospace, consumer products | |
| Specific Alloys & Features | |
| Ti | Light Weight |
| Ti-6AI-4V | Light weight, high strength |
| Copper | |
| Applications | |
| Electronic, thermal management | |
| Specific Alloys & Features | |
| Cu | High thermal and electrical conductivity |
| W-Cu, Mo-Cu | High thermal conductivity, low thermal expansion |
| Magnetic | |
| Applications | |
| Electronic solenoids, armatures, relay | |
| Specific Alloys & Features | |
| Fe-3%Si | Low core losses and high electrical resistivity |
| Fe-50%Ni | High permeability and low coercive field |
| Fe-50%Co | Highest magnetic saturation |
| Tungsten | |
| Applications | |
| Military, electronic, sporting goods | |
| Specific Alloys & Features | |
| W | Density |
| W heavy alloy | Density and toughness |
| Hardmetals | |
| Applications | |
| Cutting and wear applications | |
| Specific Alloys & Features | |
| WC-5Co | Higher hardness |
| WC-10Co | Higher toughness |