TA&T offers two main options for pressing including hot pressing and isostatic pressing. For isostatic pressing, we specialize in both hot isostatic pressing and cold isostatic pressing. No matter what your pressing needs are, our team of experts can help. If you have been looking to scale, TA&T can help easily make your vision a reality. By utilizing our pressing services, you can eliminate the need to move into a larger space and invest in more expensive equipment. You can also avoid needing to expand your team or bring in a new trade. Let us take care of your hot pressing and isostatic pressing needs, so you can focus on what you do best.
Isostatic Pressing
The process of isostatic pressing can significantly improve density and strengthen materials while also providing consistent properties across an entire workpiece. Isostatic pressing is a pressure equalizing process used to reduce porosity within a material, shaping it into its desired form.
This is accomplished either through cold isostatic pressing, where temperatures are kept below room temperature by applying hydrostatic pressure to the material, or through the application of heat, referred to as hot isostatic pressing. This is usually achieved in an inert atmosphere to avoid oxidation costs.
In traditional methods such as hot pressing, oxidation can occur and cause serious damage if used for the wrong applications. The applications of isostatic pressing beyond just corrosion resistance extend all the way from fine micro sintering into large chunks of ceramics for use in any number of products for industry and technology.
Hot Pressing
TA&T has 30- and 600-ton vacuum hot presses that are available in sizes from 2â to 36" in diameter.
TA&T can adjust heating and pressure profiles to meet customer requirements as well as both circular and rectangular sizes using graphite inserts in larger graphite dies. If desired, TA&T can provide post processing steps including part density, hot isostatic pressing, grinding and polishing and optical property measurements in the case of transparent materials. The size and temperature capability of the presses are in the table below.
| Press | Max Temperature | Max. Die Size* |
|---|---|---|
| 30-ton | 1650°C | 5â diameter |
| 600-ton | 1650°C | 36â diameter |
Hot pressing is a technique used in modern-day manufacturing processes that helps boost production by eliminating the need for multiple steps usually found in other processes. The vacuum hot press uses vacuum and heat to compress, deform and bond together two or more materials such as wood, metal, plastic and ceramic.
This intense mix of vacuum and heat creates an ultrahigh-pressure state that boosts adhesion so stronger bonds can form between materials. Heat increases the shape memory of materials and softens them just enough to help reshape them when needed. Hot pressing also helps reduce production costs by creating uniform products with consistent quality levels every time.
Simply put, vacuum hot pressing is an incredibly useful tool that can rapidly accelerate the manufacturing process while still efficiently delivering superior quality results.
Hot Isostatic Pressing
Hot isostatic pressing is utilized for many industrial processes including powder metallurgy, forming ceramics, and sintering plastics. TA&T offers hot isostatic pressing (HIP) services that are equipped to handle extreme pressures, temperatures, and heating profiles. Our American Isostatic Press built HIP is suited for a wide variety of materials and applications.
Hot isostatic pressing (HIP) is an incredibly useful tool to shape and harden materials. This technique involves encasing a material in a hot, pressurized chamber, and then subjecting it to high temperatures and pressures. HIP creates extremely high-density parts with very dense grain structure, superior mechanical properties, and consistent dimensional accuracy.
| HIP Dimensions and Capabilities | |
|---|---|
| Chamber Size: | 20" dia. x 62" height |
| Max Temperature: | 2000°C |
| Max Pressure: | 15,000 PSI (103 MPa) |
| Atmosphere: | Controlled Argon (Ar) |
HIP has become an increasingly popular choice for applications that require lightweight parts with strength and durability, such as aerospace components and medical implants. Furthermore, hot isostatic pressing also helps conserve energy, reducing manufacturing steps leading to lower production costs. With hot isostatic pressing, you can minimize material waste levels and reuse existing materials rather than creating new ones from scratch.
Cold Isostatic Pressing
TA&T offers Cold Isostatic Pressing (CIP) services. Hydraulically driven, the pressure vessel can easily handle pressures up to 30,000 PSI (30 KSI). Ideal for producing uniform densities in complex parts.
Cold isostatic pressing (CIP) is a method of compacting materials into parts or products by applying cold, hydrostatic pressure. The process relies on a liquid medium such as water or oil that is forced against the material in order to form it. TA&T offers cold isostatic pressing that can be used to reduce material porosity and create complex geometries for automotive, aerospace, medical device and other industrial applications. By controlling the levels of cold pressure applied to the material, CIP allows for uniform compaction to prevent cracks and irregularities from forming. This ensures high-quality end products of optimal strength and endurance.
| CIP Dimensions and Capabilities | |
|---|---|
| Chamber Size: | 12" dia. x 34" height |
| Max Pressure: | 30,000 PSI (30 KSI) |
| Atmosphere: | Liquid |
Cold isostatic pressing allows for a manufacturing process which applies uniform pressure across an entire component. Since the pressure is cold, it does not alter the component's properties such as heat treatment or chemical composition. CIP can also accommodate larger components than other processes such as machining, making it suitable for intricate geometric shapes and parts that contain cavities or voids. This has made cold isostatic pressing popular in applications such as the manufacturing of medical implants, optical lenses, and aerospace components where precision and uniformity are key. Additionally, CIP can be used to reduce porosity, improve surface finish and obtain higher densification of components with hollow centers compared to alternative processes.
Ready to Utilize TA&Tâs Pressing Services?
Each project is unique, and your specifications will depend on many factors. To get a personalized quote and for more information, please contact us today!
TA&T holds proprietary designs and processes in strict confidentiality.