Rolls-Royce 2026 Innovation Award Goes to MIM Sinter Joining Research: A New Pathway for Forming Complex Inconel 713LC Components
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Rolls-Royce 2026 Innovation Award Goes to MIM Sinter Joining Research: A New Pathway for Forming Complex Inconel 713LC Components
According to a report by the European Powder Metallurgy Association (EPMA) on October 16, the Metal Injection Moulding (MIM) sinter joining research conducted by Rolls-Royce Deutschland and Fraunhofer IFAM has won the Publications category award at the Rolls-Royce 2026 Innovation Award. The research was carried out under the framework of the German aviation research project LuFo KOMPAKT. The paper, titled "A study on a method of sinter joining in the metal injection moulding process," was co-authored by Mikael Luoto, Enrico Daenicke, Ralf Müller, and Thomas Hartwig, and was presented at Euro PM2024.
The study validates a new process pathway: separately moulded MIM green parts are solvent-debinded (using acetone), joined together using a binder paste, and then integrated through sintering. This approach makes it possible to create geometric structures that cannot be formed by traditional single-shot moulding. The experimental material used was the low-carbon nickel-based superalloy Inconel 713LC. The study compared three types of pastes: a system-specific polymer paste, a standard polymer paste, and a polymer paste containing fillers.
Mechanical testing revealed that the tensile strength of the joined parts is comparable to that of the unjoined base material (with a slight decrease in elongation), the creep (stress rupture) performance is consistent with the base material, and the fatigue performance is somewhat reduced, with each of the three pastes showing distinct characteristics. The team successfully manufactured a "housing" demonstration part that could not be formed by conventional MIM processes, indicating the feasibility of this method for mass production.
Value for Powder Purchasers: 1. Sinter joining opens up new possibilities for combining multiple parts into complex structures in MIM, which is beneficial for the demand for MIM feedstocks (fine-grade powders + binder systems) of superalloys such as Inconel 713LC. 2. The MIM production of assembled components, such as turbochargers and small aerospace parts, may expand the procurement scenarios for fine powders. Suppliers could proactively position themselves according to MIM particle size standards. 3. Fatigue performance still requires improvement. It is worth tracking the certification progress of Rolls-Royce aerospace components and the pace of process scale-up.
Sources
- powdersight.com › web (2026-10-16) - Original link: Rolls-Royce 2026 Innovation Award: Tensile Strength of MIM Sinter-Joined Inconel 713LC Complex Parts ... - https://www.powdersight.com/news/4726