HIP combines high temperatures (up to 2,000°C) with isostatically applied gas pressures (up to 45,000 psi) to eliminate internal porosity in castings, and to bond dissimilar materials, producing superior materials performance.
With the largest HIP network in the world, our processing capability can accommodate components with sizes up to 1.8m diameter by 3.3m high and ranging from 0.1kg to over 30,000kg in weight.
HIP powder metallurgy allows the engineer to optimise component design and manufacture, whilst simultaneously improving microstructural homogeneity and material properties.
What we do
Hot isostatic pressing
Hot isostatic pressing (HIP) is a manufacturing process used to eliminate internal microporosity in metal castings and other materials. HIP also enables the densification of metal, polymer, ceramic and composite powders in the solid state. Both of these methods result in superior material properties.
Benefits of Hot isostatic pressing
- Eliminates all internal voids in castings and metallic components created by additive manufacturing methods
- Decreases casting inspection rejection rate
- Improves product consistency
- Improves soundness and mechanical properties (fatigue life, ductility, impact strength) of castings, potentially allowing sleeker design
- Enhances vacuum tightness and machined surface finish of castings
- Produces full density material from metal, composite, polymer or ceramic powders without melting
- From powders, creates solid material with superior properties due to fine, uniform grain size and isotropic structure
- Enables unique powder blends to be combined into solids that would not be possible to form by other manufacturing methods
- Produce complex-shaped solid components from powders
- Improves toughness, ductility, fatigue strength, and consistency of metal injection moulded (MIM) parts
- Bonds dissimilar metals without the need of temperature-limiting adhesives
- Produce clad components via HIP bonding.
For specific benefits, refer to the relevant application page.
Application & materials
Examples of parts HIPed in large volumes include, but are not limited to: Hot section and structural gas turbine components (both dynamic and static); aerospace structural and engine parts; implantable medical devices; automotive engine components; valve bodies and other petrochemical processing equipment; critical munitions pieces; tooling, die and general engineering parts; sputter targets; and PM alloy billets and near net shapes (NNS).
HIP can produce multiple diffusion bonds in a single process cycle. HIP cladding is commonly used to coat premium materials with superior properties, such as corrosion and wear resistance, onto more economical substrates, so the part can be designed cost effectively.
Most metal alloys along with many composites, polymers and ceramics can be HIPed, including nickel, cobalt, tungsten, titanium, molybdenum, aluminium, copper and iron based alloys; oxide and nitride ceramics; glasses; intermetallics; and premium plastics.
Hot isostatic pressing process details
- Reproducible automated HIP cycles tailored to meet customers’ needs
- Component traceability from door to door
- Stringent inert gas (argon) purity requirements
- Meet or exceed customer, military, and/or industry specifications
- Technical support for HIPing novel materials or alloys
- Compatible tooling for the HIP cycle and customer material requirements.
Related services
- Casting densification
- HIP cladding
- HIP brazing
- Powdermet® – Near net shape (NNS)
- Simple shape
- Simulation and analysis
- Densal®
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See how Hot Isostatic Pressing could enhance your components.