From Aviation to Implants: The MIM Industrial Standard
Establishing the industrial and clinical benchmarks for Metal Injection Moulding (MIM) in the production of high-density, bio-inert body jewelry.
In 2014, Poli International founder Patrick Poli collaborated with renowned metallurgy specialist Dr. Robert Sanford to solve a critical issue in body art engineering: micro-fractures. By adopting Aerospace-grade MIM protocols, the studio eliminated the structural failures inherent in traditional casting.
MIM vs. Traditional Casting: The Structural Reality
Traditional investment (lost-wax) casting relies on gravity-fed molten slurry, which often solidifies prematurely, leading to porosity and surface defects. MIM uses high-pressure injection into precision steel molds, ensuring absolute density and structural integrity.
- Density: MIM achieves >99% theoretical density, matching NASA-grade alloy benchmarks.
- Precision: Allows for sharper cutting points and thinner walls (impossible with gravity casting).
- Longevity: Molds last for 200,000+ cycles, ensuring consistent dimensions across mass production.
The 8-Step Aerospace Workflow
Our clinical facility in Thailand follows a rigorous 8-step industrial sequence to ensure implant-grade results:
- 1. Raw Material Preparation: Incoming powder inspection and Nitrogen analysis.
- 2. Testing: Microtrac Particle Size Distribution (PSD) and Helium Pycnometry.
- 3. Mixing: Multi-axis Turbula dry mixing for formula homogenization.
- 4. Compounding: Leistritz Twin-Screw extrusion to create the feedstock.
- 5. Molding: High-pressure injection via Arburg Allrounder hydraulic systems.
- 6. Debinding: Solvent removal of primary binders (the "Brown Part" stage).
- 7. Sintering: Elnik Vacuum Furnace processing at near-melting temperatures.
- 8. Post-Processing: Optional H.I.P. (Hot Isostatic Pressing) for zero-porosity.
Patrick's Perspective
"Setting up our world-class MIM line in Thailand was a major undertaking. Our facility involved over $1M in capital investment, including Arburg molding machines ($148k) and Elnik sintering furnaces ($625k). This rigor is why, as a manufacturer today, we can guarantee the structural safety of every piece of 316L and Titanium jewelry we produce for the global industry."
Founder & Piercing Expert
UK Studio Clinical Record Verified
Aerospace Validation: Eliminating Fatigue Failure
The 2014 Sanford-Poli trials specifically targeted the elimination of hard-to-detect cracks. NASA Technical Handbook (NASA-HDBK-5026) validates that high-pressure heat treatments (H.I.P.) "not only closes flaws but also fuses them together," ensuring parts possess the durability of wrought stainless steel.
Visual Journey: 2014 Archive Photos
Direct evidence from the 2014 clinical trials in Thailand, showing the transition from raw materials to final medical-grade jewelry.
- Feedstock: The raw 316L stainless steel compound before injection.
- Brown Parts: Fragile, porous components after solvent debinding (Belly bars, labrets).
- Sintered Pieces: High-density "off-oven" jewelry, demonstrating aerospace-grade structural fusion.
Multimedia Technical Briefs
Deep-dive resources generated from our internal clinical data to assist professionals in understanding MIM metallurgy.
- Podcast: "The Sanford-Poli Engineering Files" — A 15-minute deep dive into the 2014 research.
- Infographic: Full 8-step industrial process breakdown.
Technical Specifications
| PARAMETER_ID | QUALIFIED_STANDARD |
|---|---|
| Theoretical Density | > 99.2% |
| Surface Finish | Ra < 0.8μm (Off-Oven) |
| Tooling Life | 200,000 Cycles (Steel) |
| Research Lead | Dr. Robert Sanford (2014) |
Cross-References
- // REF_ASTM_F136: Titanium 6Al4V ELI
- // REF_NASA_HDBK_5026: Fracture Control Requirements
- // REF_SANFORD_POLI_2014: Thailand Clinical Implementation
Put Science Into Practice
This technical standard is the architectural foundation for our professional analytical tools.
Initialize Material Certification Checker →