Two-component micro powder injection moulding experienced significant progress in the recent past. Starting as a manufacturing method for integrating two different plastics, the extension of two-component injection moulding (2C-IM) from pure plastics to more resistant materials like ceramics or metals (2C-PIM) provided sophisticated and challenging applications. With the transfer of 2C-PIM to micro systems, two-component micro powder injection moulding (2C-MicroPIM) was established. Up to a certain extend sinter joining is an alternative to 2C-PIM. It allows for component assemblies to be moulded as separate low-complexity parts which are then joined into complex assemblies. This procedure considerably reduces the time and cost required to manufacture the injection moulding tools. This article gives an overview of the development of 2C-MicroPIM-from two component plastic devices to the production of complex two-component micro assemblies made of two ceramic or metallic materials and the state-ofthe-art of science and technology of sinter joining.
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