WEDM-LS processing sophisticated and durable Zr-based metallic glass mold insert for micro structure injection of polymers

Biomed Microdevices. 2019 Feb 6;21(1):13. doi: 10.1007/s10544-019-0366-0.

Abstract

Micro components processed by injection molding still have a defect of bad precision and short life. A Zr- based metallic glass was reported for injection mold insert which can solve the problem well. The microstructure of metallic glass mold insert can be fabricated by wire electrical discharge machining-low speed (WEDM-LS), WEDM-LS has higher machining accuracy than WEDM-high speed, and X-ray diffraction curves show that the processed sample still retained better amorphous characteristic, afterward, time-temperature-transformation diagram shows metallic glass has a long service life in production. Finally, under the observe of scanning electron microscope, it is found that the products after injection molding not only completely replicates the structure on metallic glass but also have a better surface morphology. These experiments show that processing a sophisticated and durable Zr-based metallic glass mold by WEDM-LS is good for getting micro structure injection of polymers. It also provides a good mold material and machining method for injection industry.

Keywords: Metallic glass; Microstructure; Time-temperature-transformation; Wire electrical discharge machining-low speed; X-ray diffraction.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Drug Delivery Systems / instrumentation*
  • Drug Delivery Systems / methods*
  • Glass*
  • Humans
  • Polymers / pharmacology*
  • Surface Properties
  • Titanium
  • Zirconium*

Substances

  • Polymers
  • Zirconium
  • Titanium