Brief hot isostatic process (HIP)
Hot isostatic pressing (HIP) is a manufacturing process used to reduce the
porosity of metals and increase the density of many ceramic materials. This
improves the material's mechanical properties and workability.
The HIP process subjects a component to both elevated temperature and
isostatic gas pressure in a high pressure containment vessel. The pressurizing
gas most widely used is argon. An inert gas is used, so that the material does
not chemically react. The chamber is heated, causing the pressure inside the
vessel to increase. Many systems use associated gas pumping to achieve the
necessary pressure level. Pressure is applied to the material from all
directions (hence the term "isostatic").
HIPing is one of the answers to solving your precision and complex casting
and manufacturing needs.
HIP is a production process of unique benefit in the precision casting, powder
metal, metal bonding and ceramics industries. HIP improves the performance and
yield of precision castings. HIP consolidates powders of metals, ceramics or
carbides into fully dense, complex parts wit net or near net shapes. HIP is
also used for diffusion bonding similar and dissimilar materials and for
applying wear or corrosion resistant coatings to parts exposed to stringent
operating conditions.
Hot Isostatic Pressing is a
process in which components are subjected to the simultaneous application of
heat and high pressure in an inter gas medium. The pressure is uniform in all
directions or isostatic. Using hot isostatic pressure, the material is changed,
in simpler terms, to a ‘plastic state’ which collapses the voids. The clean
surfaces of the voids bond together making the components or parts stronger. In
most cases, voids that were collapsed do not change or alter the shape of the
parts orcomponents.
Hot Isostatic Pressing results
in startling improvements in materials’ mechanical properties, as well as
significantly reduced scrap losses and decreased rework and weld repair. Of
high significance is the marked reduction in the statistical spread or scatter
usually associated with the cast material properties. The net result is
improved reliability and efficiency of material utilization in case components.
Discuss the mechanics of the process
Production process for hot isostatic pressing
Powder metallurgically based hot isostatic pressing (PM HIP) technology for
its near-net shape products.
The production process step by step
The production process from the melt to the finished product takes place in
three stages. Powder is produced by inert gas atomization. The powder is canned
in sheet metal capsules, giving the product the desired shape. The capsules are
consolidated into full density under high pressure and temperature by hot
isostatic pressing (HIP).
Melting and atomization
The melt produced in an induction furnace is tapped into an
induction-heated ladle where further alloying elements can be added in a
protective atmosphere. The ladle also permits stirring and temperature control
of the melt throughout the process.
When the melt is tapped from the bottom of the ladle it is discharged
directly into the atomization chamber. The molten steel is broken up by jets of
inert gas and the atomized melt solidifies into small spherical particles of high
purity and low oxygen content and with a diameter less than 500 micron. The
powder is stored under inert gas hermetically-sealed vessels.
Canning
The powder is canned in capsules of mild steel, which are produced by sheet
metal forming and welding. The capsule is designed to give the fully dense end
product the desired shape. Compound products can be produced by designing
capsules with separate compartments for different powders or enclosing parts of
solid material together with the powder.
Hot isostatic pressing (HIP)
The capsules are placed in a hot isostatic press where they are subjected
to high pressure and temperatures. The hot isostatic pressing parameters of
pressure, temperature and time are predertermined to give the material full
density.
Post treatment
Depending on the type of material and the application, the PM HIP products
will be heat treated, machined and subjected to various types of quality
control, such as ultrasonic inspection, dye penetrant testing, testing of
mechanical properties.
The mild steel sheet used in the can remains on the product after the hot
isostatic pressing and heat treatment and is removed by machining or by acid
pickling.
Notes
For processing castings, metal powders can also be turned to compact solids
by this method, the inert gas is applied between 7,350 psi (50.7 MPa) and
45,000 psi (310 MPa), with 15,000 psi (100 MPa) being most common. Process soak
temperatures range from 900 °F (482 °C) for aluminium castings to 2,400 °F
(1,320 °C) for nickel-based superalloys. When castings are treated with HIP,
the simultaneous application of heat and pressure eliminates internal voids and
microporosity through a combination of plastic deformation, creep, and
diffusion bonding; this process improves fatigue resistance of the component.
Primary applications are the reduction of microshrinkage, the consolidation of
powder metals, ceramic composites and metal cladding. Hot isostatic pressing is
also used as part of a sintering (powder metallurgy) process and for
fabrication of metal matrix composites.
Advantages and disadvantages
Advantages of HIP products
The ability to manufacture tailor-made powder metallurgically-based (PM)
HIP products with irregular shapes and complex geometry offers several
advantages over castings, forgings and fabricated materials, both in terms of
design flexibility and material properties.
Four main advantages with HIP products
1. Increased design flexibility
Hot isostatic pressing allows for considerable design flexibility in
shaping components, making it especially suitable for products such as flanges,
valve bodies, manifolds, hubs and pump parts. Often involving irregular shapes
and small runs of a type and size, each HIP product/component can be
individually designed so that it is guaranteed to meet its operating
conditions.
2. Reduction of costly operations
The ability to manufacture products with irregular shapes and complex
geometry means less need for costly operations like machining and welding.
3. Improved process safety
The elimination of critical welds makes HIP products contribute to
increased process safety.
4. Enhanced material properties
The fine microstructure and isostatic pressure with which the HIP products
are processed result in isotropic mechanical properties, in other words, properties
that are equal in all directions. The isotropic properties, with no
segregations, can contribute to, for example, lighter constructions. And resistance
to corrosion and hydrogen-induced stress cracking (HISC).
Possible HIP Limitations
- Volumetric Shrinkage
- Surface-Connected Porosity
- Pressurizing gas will enter pores and hold them open (need
to HIP prior to machining).
- Incipient Melting
- If a compositional gradient (segregation) exists within a
part, the local melting temperature may be lower than the HIP temperature.
- Eutectic Melting
- Solid state reactions between parts and support tooling must
be considered.
- Creep Deformation
- Care must be taken with thin wall section parts.
- Material Cleanliness.
- HIP can only eliminate internal porosity; other defects such
as inclusions will remain.
How HIP can improve
Application areas
Many HIP products are used for a wide range of applications within, for
example, offshore and power
generation. Here are some examples of hot isostatic pressed (HIP) products:
- Hubs
- Manifolds
- Pump
housings
- Steam chests
- Stressometers
- Swivels
- Turbine rotor
shafts
- Valve
bodies
- Wye pieces
Enhanced product properties
The ability to manufacture HIP products with irregular shapes and complex
geometry offers several advantages over castings, forgings and fabricated
materials, both in terms of design flexibility and material properties.
The fine microstructure and isostatic pressure with which the HIP products
are processed result in isotropic mechanical properties, in other words,
properties that are equal in all directions. The isotropic properties can contribute
to, for example, lighter constructions.
How HIP can impact the design