Moldable composition, process for producing sintered body therefrom and products from same

A moldable composition, which consists of:

• (1) 40-70% based on the volume of said composition of a metallic powder or a mixed powder of metallic and ceramic powder having an average diameter of 0.01 to 50 microns, mixed with correspondingly
• (2) 60-30% based on the volume of said composition of an organic binder, said organic binder consisting of:
• (2a) 20-60% based on the weight of said binder of thermoplastic component (A), having a heat deformation temperature of 130.degree. or higher, selected from the group consisting of polyacetals, polyphenylene oxides, polysulfones, polycarbonates, polyesters, polyamides and mixtures thereof,
• (2b) 40-70% based on the weight of said binder of component (B) having a melting point of 30.degree. C.-100.degree. C., selected from the group consisting of polyethylene glycol having a molecular weight of 1,000 to 20,000, fatty acids, salts of fatty acids, fatty amines, fatty alcohols and mixtures thereof, and
• (2c) at least one other thermoplastic component (C) having a heat deformation temperature of 130.degree. C. or less in an amount of at most 40% based on the weight of said binder, selected from the group consisting of polyethylene oxides having a molecular weight of 100,000 to about 5,000,000, polyethylenes, polypropylenes, polyacrylates, and polymethacrylates.

A process for producing a moldable composition, which comprises the steps of:

• kneading and heating 4-70% based on the volume of said composition of a metallic powder or mixed powder of metallic and ceramic powders, with 60-30% based on the volume of said composition of an organic binder selected from the group consisting of (1) and (2):
• (1) 20-60% based on the weight of said binder of an organic binder consisting of synthetic resin component (A) having a heat deformation temperature of 130.degree. C. or higher, selected from the group consisting of polyacetals, polyphenylene oxides, polysulfones, polycarbonates, polyesters, polyamides and mixtures thereof;
• and
• 4- 70% based on the weight of said binder of a component (B) having a melting point of 30.degree. C.-100.degree. C. selected from the group consisting of polyethylene glycol having a molecular weight of 1,000 to 20,000, fatty acids, salts of fatty acids, fatty amines, fatty alcohols and mixtures thereof;
• or
• (2) an organic binder consisting of 20-60% and 40-70% based on the weight of said binder of said components (A) and (B), respectively, and a thermoplastic component (C) having a heat deformation temperature of 130.degree. C. or less in an amount of at most 40% based on the weight of said binder, selected from the group consisting of polyphenylene oxides having a molecular weight of 100,000 to about 5,000,000, polyethylenes, polypropylenes, polyacrylates, polymethacrylates, and mixtures thereof.