| abstract |
The invention shows how powder injection molding may be used to form ancontinuous body having multiple parts, each of which has different functionalnproperties such as corrosion resistance or hardness, there being no connectivenmaterials such as solder or glue between the parts. This is accomplished throughncareful control of the relative shrinkage rates of these various parts. Althoughnthere is no limit to how many parts with different functional properties can makenup an object, special attention is paid to certain pairs of functional properties thatnare difficult and/or expensive to combine in a single object when othernmanufacturing means are used. |