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Ceramic injection molding (CIM) has long relied on binder systems that are efficient but environmentally challenging. The traditional POM and nitric acid route delivers reliable processing but also comes with significant drawbacks, such as formaldehyde off-gassing and the requirement of corrosion-resistant furnaces with attached scrubber trains.

Water‑soluble binder systems emerged as a greener alternative for more than two decades, yet early approaches faced hurdles such as slow extraction during aqueous pre-debinding extraction which ultimately increased the risk of defects when the residual binder is thermally removed. In recent years, a new generation of water-debindable binder systems have moved from laboratory development into industrial practice. At KRAHN Ceramics, we have been working on developing advanced formulations that combine hydrophilic backbone polymers with tailored surfactants and plasticizers, enabling faster and more complete water extraction than earlier systems.

The results with the new generation of binders are significant: Extraction times have been reduced from days to hours, thermal debinding steps have been shortened by more than half and the processing of wall sections beyond 10 mm – once considered binder-limited – is now possible. Additionally, debinding only requires simple tap water at room temperature.

These developments open new opportunities for both process efficiency and part design, while reducing the environmental and safety burdens traditionally associated with CIM. In a recent technical article in PIM International, Dr Thorsten Ohlerth, Technical Manager at KRAHN Ceramics, presents a series of tests demonstrating the successful molding, debinding and sintering of wall sections exceeding 10 mm. The article focuses on debinding kinetics, but also deals with molding behavior, economics and design implications of the technology.

Learn more in the current issue of PIM International magazine: https://issuu.com/inovar-communications/docs/pim_international_autumn_2025/105 

Press Contact

Maria Dietrich

Corporate Communications Manager

Otto Krahn Group GmbH

Mühlenhagen 35

20539 Hamburg

Phone +49 40 74 32 61 072

Email maria.dietrich@ottokrahn.group