Manufacturing of Nuclear components using Powder Metallurgy Near Net Shape production and Hot Isostatic Pressing

To improve mechanical properties and fatigue resistance in cast products, Hot Isostatic Pressing (HIP) has been used to remove shrinkage porosity and internal defects for many years. Isostatic pressure in combination with heat is so powerful that canisters containing metal powders with a packing density lower than 70% can be completely densified to form solid metal blocks. The production of specially designed canisters can lead to predictive final shapes with extremely complex geometries, which are a viable option to forging, casting and additive manufacturing. The processing is referred to as Powder Metallurgy Near-Net-Shape (PM NNS), or Powder Metallurgy HIP (PM HIP).