Simplification of High Temperature High Pressure Equipment and Technique for Advanced Materials Processing

Abstract

Combining pressure and temperature for material processing remains a challenge; if combined and applied, the potential is high for advanced material processing. In addition to advanced powder materials processing and syntheses, complicated fabrications such as joining of dissimilar materials for aerospace, pressure assisted sintering are possible with combined high pressure high temperature technique. In this study, a simplified version of high pressure high temperature equipment is designed and built. The new system eliminates/simplifies complicated and costly equipment such as hot isostatic press. The system has capacity to apply maximum gas pressure of 100 MPa and attain temperature up to 1050 °C. In addition, different processing atmospheres (inert, reducing and vacuum) are possible in the system. Special purpose jigs and fixture are designed to accommodate various processes of synthesis, sintering, joining, hot isostatic pressing and densification etc. Sintering of powder compacts and loose powder were carried out to prove the system.