hot isostatic pressing (hip)

about hot isostatic pressing

Hot Isostatic Pressing (HIP) is a proven process for heat treatment, consolidation of powder, densification of products – such as castings, sintered materials, and ceramic parts – or for diffusion bonding applications. While HIP has been around for decades, we are seeing new applications in high-performance parts.

Aalberts surface technologies has decades in the thermal processing business and boasts two QIH 122 M URC presses located side-by-side on the shop floor in Greenville, SC.

optimize your supply chain we offer multiple post-processing steps under one roof
risk management two HIP units side by side creates redundancy to protect our customers if the unexpected happens
quick turns average lead time is less than 7 days and on-time delivery is greater than 98%
strong quality management systems to meet customers’ specific requirements, increase satisfaction, and exceed expectations
unique HIP cycles customized to your materials and includes heat treatment and controlled cooling
clean parts brand new, hybrid High Pressure Heat Treat HIP technology delivers cleaner parts
competitive pricing straight-forward pricing without added fees and upcharges

the HIP process

HIP is the simultaneous application of heat and high pressure to materials. This process is ideal to improve the reliability and performance of your product by eliminating porosity achieving 100% theoretical density.

Applying heat and pressure simultaneously eliminates internal voids and defects such as porosity in castings and lack-of-fusion defects is additively manufactured parts.

HIP is effective with almost all materials – including metals, ceramics, and plastic – and can be applied to a large range of alloys including titanium, steels, aluminum, copper, and magnesium. It improves material properties such as fatigue resistance, creep, ductility, and workability of parts designed for mission-critical applications. The HIP process densifies, repairs, and creates a uniform microstructure of additive manufactured parts.

Examination of HIP’ed parts by non-destructive testing techniques show excellent results. In Powder Metallurgy, the HIP process can produce materials from metallic compositions that are difficult or impossible to forge or cast.

proven benefits of HIP and heat treating:

Superior material properties
Reduction in scatter of mechanical properties
Improved machine + polish surface appearance
Low weight design
Lower production cost

A HIP unit consists of a high temperature furnace enclosed within a pressure vessel. Components are heated and then soaked in a uniformly pressurized (isostatic) Argon gas environment to repair/close any internal voids or porosity that are present. Temperatures up to 2282°F (1250°C) and pressures from 15,000 to 30,000 psi (100 – 200 MPa) are used depending on the material that is being processed. The simultaneous application of high temperature and pressure activates a combination of plastic deformation, creep and diffusion bonding to repair internal defects. HIP is often used to significantly improve the properties of additive manufactured components as well as to increase the density of power metal products.

HIP and high pressure heat treatment (HPHT) capabilities

Both of our HIP units are equipped with a proprietary Uniform Rapid Cooling (URC) feature. URC combines solution and age in a single process. High Pressure Heat Treat (HPHT) streamlines the steps involved in material densification and heat treatment. This innovative approach enables all processed components to cool uniformly in a controlled environment, resulting in minimal thermal distortion and non-uniform grain growth.

max pressure: 30,000 psi
max temperature: 2,282 F/1,250C
max cooling rate: up to 390 F per minute
gas chromatograph
load capacity 24.5” dia x 66”h
uniform rapid cooling

hot isostatic pressing – a process for all industries

The HIP process is ideal for a wide range of solutions in a wide range of industries:

aerospace & defense
oil & gas
medical
automotive
nuclear
sputtering targets
space

have a HIP question?

If you are looking to improve material properties of your parts designed for mission-critical applications, Aalberts surface technologies has the post-processing solutions you need.

Our team has the skill and expertise to solve even your most complex thermal processing challenge. Ask us a question or request a quote and let’s get started together by providing faster lead times and cleaner parts – all at a competitive price.