Hot Isostatic Pressing (HIP) The Fundamentals, Industrial Applications and Benefits

Hot Isostatic Pressing (HIP) The

Fundamentals, Industrial Applications and
Benefits
By Nick Gilbert May 24 2012

Contents
Introduction to HIP
How Does HIP Work?
HIP In Manufacturing
Applications and Products of HIP
Benefits of HIP

Introduction to HIP
Hot Isostatic Pressing is a manufacturing technique designed to increase the density of
materials by reducing or eliminating their porosity or microporosity thus creating fully
dense wrought materials. Hot Isostatic Pressing (HIP) is a process employed to
enhance or create materials or products with different mechanical properties by
improving density, composition and dynamic strength.

How Does HIP Work?

The definition of isostatic (subjected to equal pressure from every side) gives us a
fundamental clue to the basic mechanics of HIP.

During Hot Isostatic Presing, pressure is applied to a material uniformly from all
directions through an inert gas (such as Argon) in a pressurized vessel. Throughout
the process heat is applied to the containment chamber to increase this pressure over
time. It is important to note that the temperature employed is typically below the
melting point of the material being pressed.

An inert gas is used to ensure that no chemical reaction occurs with the material during
the process. The application of both heat and pressure simultaneously on all surfaces
of a material helps to eliminate any small gaps (pores) in the material and hence
increases density and uniform composition.

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Hot Isostatic Pressing (HIP) The Fundamentals, Industrial Applications and Benefits

HIPs come in many forms, shapes and sizes and can operate at a range of
temperatures and pressures. The following video is a great introduction to HIP:

Introduction to HIP Video

Run Time 7:31mins

HIP can be used to press a range of materials from Ceramics and Aluminium castings
to Nickel based super-alloys for all sorts of applications.

HIP in Manufacturing
Typical materials processed by HIP could be:

Ceramics
Metal Powder Castings
Plastics
Hardmetals
Low Carbon Steels
Stainless Steels
Nickel-based Super-alloys
Cobalt-based alloys
Glass
Tungsten Carbide

Applications and Products of HIP

HIP is widely used during the manufacture of high integrity and precise components for
a diverse range of applications and industries from Aerospace and Medicine to
Automotive.

Composites
Medical Implants
Bi-metal materials
Sintering (Powder metallurgy)
Coatings
Ceramic parts
Metal Matrix Composites
Super-Alloy Castings
Titanium Castings

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Hot Isostatic Pressing (HIP) The Fundamentals, Industrial Applications and Benefits

Gas Turbine Components

Pumps
Valves
Pistons
Cutting Tools
Plastic and food extrusion technology
Heat Treatment
Diffusion Bonding
Redensification
HIP Brazing

Benefits of HIP
HIP allows us to squeeze the impurities (pores) out of materials in order to improve a
number of their material characteristics. For example, in sintering (powder metallurgy)
the process compresses a volume of metal powder at such high pressures and
temperatures, that through a combination of deformation, creep and diffusion bonding
you actually create a product with an homogenous annealed microstructure (compact
solid) with minimal or no impurities in the material.

HIP gives the manufacturer and ultimate user a number of unique benefits:

Highest Achievable Density

Higher Static Strength
No segregation or grain growth during manufacture
Higher Dynamic / yield and tensile strength
Homogeneous annealed microstructure
Maximum abrasion resistance
Higher Corrosion resistance
Reduced porosity
Improved fatigue resistance
Reduction of Microshrinkage of castings
Near-Net shaped parts

References:

http://hip.bodycote.com/
http://www.hempel-metals.com
http://www.kennametal.com
http://www.epsi-highpressure.com

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