INJECTION-MOLDING AND RELATED TECHNIQUES FOR FABRICATION OF MICROSTRUCTURES

Injection molding technology and its different modifications represent established processes for manufacturing polymer products with high ac curacy in large scale production. Enhanced machine and tool technologi es like evacuation units and special temperization systems have alread y been adapted to the molding of microstructures with high aspect rati os. Cycle times are actually in the range of minutes and depend on the geometry of the microstructures and the materials used. Based on inje ction molding of lost plastic microforms new processes for the manufac turing of ceramic or metal microstructures are being developed.