Injection moulding of oxide reduced copper powders

Fine oxide reduced copper powders of about 10 mu m mean grain size are irregular in particle shape and high in oxygen content, which poses a difficulty in achieving good properties from injection moulding. Injection moulding was possible when a multicomponent binder with a large fraction of the backbone polymer was used. Injection moulded parts could be sintered to a density of about 95% theoretical, if reduction of the residual oxides in the powder was effectively carried out prior to closure of pores during sintering. Under such a condition, the injection moulded parts could attain an electrical conductivity higher than 80% of pure copper.