Benefits of HIP
HIP allows the impurities (pores) to be squeezed out of materials in order to improve a number of their material characteristics. For example, in sintering (powder metallurgy) the process compresses a volume of metal powder at such high pressures and temperatures, that through a combination of deformation, creep and diffusion bonding you actually create a product with an homogenous annealed microstructure (compact solid) with minimal or no impurities in the material.
It allows manufacturers to create stronger and more durable products. When certain materials, such as metals and ceramics, are exposed to heat and pressure, they become stronger and more durable.
Some manufacturing companies use HIP to minimize the production of scrap material. By treating the material with pressure and heat beforehand, the material will typically create less scrap when used in other manufacturing processes.
Metal powders can be converted into solid material using HIP. For this type of HIP process, however, more pressure is required. It’s not uncommon for metal powders to be exposed to up to 15,000 pounds per square inch (PSI) of pressure. Combined with heat, the pressure squeezes the metal powders together, resulting in the formation of a solid material.