METHOD FOR PRODUCING A COMPONENT BY MEANS OF A POWDERY STARTING MATERIAL AND EXTRACTOR SUITABLE THEREFORE

摘要

According to a known method for producing a component by means of a powdery starting material, powder is mixed with auxiliaries comprising binding agent s, whereby a free-flowing mass is produced. A green body is produced from the mass by means of powder injection moulding. A portion of the auxiliaries is extracted by heating the green body in a container and exposing said body to a stream of solvents. The green body is sintered, whereby the component is produced. The aim of the invention is to enable fast and gentle extraction f or releasing green bodies which are produced by means of powder injection moulding. According to the invention, the extraction comprises a heating-up phase during which the temperature of the green body is permanently or gradually increased and the green body is overflown by a solvent in the form of a compressed, supercritical treatment gas. Preferably, the direction of flow of the treatment gas is changed at least once during the heating-up phase. An extractor that is suitable for carrying out said method is characterised by a pressure sealed housing that is provided with at least on e lateral limiting wall and encloses a treatment chamber for receiving a carri er element which is loaded with a plurality of green bodies. Said housing is provided with a lock-up load and removal opening for the green bodies. Said opening is configured in the lateral limiting wall as a passage for the carrier element.