Improvement of material properties by applying hot isostatic pressing

Hot isostatic compression (HIP) involves the simultaneous application of pressure and elevated temperature to materials. The pressure applied, usually by a gas, is isostatic because it¿s developed in a suitable pressurized vessel by a fluid. Under these conditions of heat and pressure, internal pores or defects within a solid body or a powder compact collapse and weld up. Encapsulated powder and sintered components densify easily and faster than due to sintering alone. Therefore HIP is today used for a lot of applications, like upgrading castings (removing shrinkage pores in interdendritic space), densifying pre-sintered components, consolidation of powders and interfacial bonding. The work is dedicated to students and engineers involved in studying and synthesis of advanced materials based on HIPing technologies.