|
|
Raw material powders are selected and proper weight percents are blended to achieve a desired final chemical composition for the alloy to be produced
|
|
|
Powder is transferred to reusable pre-shaped elastomeric tooling. Sealed tooling is then placed in an isostatic pressure vessel and pressed at room temperature (using hydrostatic pressure often at pressures exceeding 50Ksi). The compacted powder is removed from the tooling yielding a compacted “green” preform.
|
|
|
The “green” preform is transferred to a vacuum furnace and processed at a prescribed time and temperature (below the melting point), with controlled heat-up and cool-down rates. During sintering, the material is further densified and alloying of the raw material ingredients is accomplished through solid state diffusion. |
|
|
The HIP process is used to produce full density, closing small residual porosity and improving mechanical properties of the finished material.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
