Cold Isostastic Pressing (CIP)

Cold isostatic pressing has the advantage for producing parts where the high initial cost of pressing dies cannot be justified or when very large or complex compacts are needed. A variety of powders can be pressed isostatically on a commercial scale, including metals, ceramics, plastics, and composites. Pressures required for compacting range from less than 5,000 psi to more than 100,000 psi (34.5 to 690 MPa). Powders are compacted in elastomeric molds in either a wet or dry bag process.

Advantages of CIP:

• • Uniform strength in all directions: The pressure used to compact the powder is applied equally in all directions.
• • Uniform density: The resulting compacted piece will have uniform shrinkage during sintering or hot isostatic pressing with little or no warpage.
• • Shape flexibility: Isostatic pressing makes it practical to produce shapes and dimensions that are difficult or impossible to produce by other methods.
• • Larger parts: Part sizes are limited only by the size of the isostatic pressure chamber.
• • Low tooling cost: For short production runs, the tooling cost is low in comparison to other manufacturing methods.
• • High green strength: Increased possibilities for machining the compact in its green state.
• • Difficult to press materials: Powders can be isostatically pressed dry without water, lubricants, or binders.