Numerical Simulation and Experimental Study of the Thermal Wick-Debinding Used in Low-Pressure Powder Injection Molding
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
Comments and Suggestions for Authors- Please decrease the amount of key words and simplify them.
- The composition of 17-4PH stainless steel powder can be introduced.
- Errors should be added for the data.
- For Fig.6, if the magnification of SEM could affect the numerical results?
- How to further increase the predicted values?
- In terms of other metal powders or other powder shape, the predicted values will be change or not.
Author Response
See the attached file
Author Response File: 
Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 2 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsThe manuscript presents a comprehensive study on the numerical simulation and experimental validation of thermal wick-debinding (TWD) in low-pressure powder injection molding (LPIM). The work is well-structured, methodologically sound, and addresses a significant gap in the literature regarding metallic-based feedstocks. The integration of COMSOL Multiphysics simulations with experimental data provides valuable insights into the debinding process. Below are specific comments and suggestions for improvement.
* The study fills a gap by extending numerical modeling to metallic-based LPIM feedstocks, which have been less explored compared to ceramic-based systems.
* The abstract could better highlight the key numerical findings and the practical outcomes.
* Introduction: The literature review is thorough but could be streamlined to focus more sharply on the knowledge gap.
* Explicitly state the research objectives earlier currently buried in the last paragraph.
*Figure 8: Label the subfigures (a-h) more clearly to distinguish between Level Set and Multiphase Flow methods.
*Figure 10: Include error bars for experimental data to clarify the significance of deviations (3–10 vol. %).
*SEM Images (Figure 11): Add scale bars to all micrographs for clarity.
* Discuss whether binder distribution heterogeneity affects the model’s assumptions of uniform extraction.
* The conclusions are well-supported but could be more concise.
Author Response
See the attached file
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 3 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsThe manuscript presents a comprehensive numerical and experimental study on thermal wick-debinding in low-pressure powder injection molding (LPIM). The combination of COMSOL simulations with experimental validation provides valuable insights into the debinding process. The work is appropriate for the journal; there are some observations that must be addressed before the manuscript can be accepted.
- Introduction: you should explicitly state how previous models fall short for metallic feedstocks. And also emphasize the practical implications of optimizing debinding parameters (e.g., cost reduction, productivity).
- 2.1 Feedstock preparation and molding: the rationale for selecting specific waxes (paraffin, Carnauba) and additives (stearic acid, EVA) could be expanded. How do these choices influence debinding kinetics?
- 2.2 Thermal wick-debinding treatment: you should clarify why these specific temperatures (75–250°C) and times (1–10 h) were chosen.
- As for Fig.11, you must clearly label the products and their names in the SEM images, to facilitate reader understanding.
- The manuscript needs to carefully reviewed to eliminate incorrect spelling, formatting errors, and grammar mistakes. suggest to check carefully and seek help from native English speakers to polish the writing of the manuscript.
The English could be improved to more clearly express the research.
Author Response
See the attached file
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Round 2
Reviewer 2 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsThe revisions are well satisfactory with the proposed comments. The version is basically reached to the journal requirements. A suggestion to authors is that the responses to comments should not only mention "revised" but also provide the revisions along. Anyway, this is the advice only, and the revised manuscript can be passed to next step.
