Hot isostatic pressing

Hot isostatic pressing (HIP) is a form of heat treatment that uses high pressure to improve material properties. That pressure is applied by an inert gas, usually argon. Time at elevated temperature and pressure allows plastic deformation, creep and diffusion to occur. Castings for critical applications are HIPed to eliminate internal microporosity thereby improving mechanical properties by removing defects. Hot isostatic pressing also enables the bonding, or cladding, of two or more materials together, either in the solid or powder form.

Hot isostatic pressing plays an important role in powder metallurgy and 3D printing as well. Bodycote has decades of experience creating both simple to complex components from powdered metal. Bodycote Powdermet® technologies are a group of manufacturing processes used in the production of complex components; and now incorporate new, patent-pending techniques that combine 3D printing with well-established near net shape and selective surface net shape techniques. These solutions dramatically reduce the manufacturing time and production cost of a part compared to producing the same part using 3D printing alone.

As the global leader in specialist thermal processing, Bodycote offers an extensive range of hot isostatic pressing services. Our facilities process a wide variety of component sizes to exacting standards with reliable, repeatable results. Our hot isostatic pressing operations are managed by some of the best engineers and technicians in the industry, with the experience and expertise to provide vital support and a real understanding of customer requirements.