First Hot Isostatic
Processing Vessels*

Drawing (dated 12/31/54) of the reactor assembly used by Auto-clave Engineers, Inc. to manufacture the first cold-wall gas-pressure bonding vessel for Battelle.

early examples of fabrication vessels using gas pressure and temperature to produce advanced alloy and ceramic products

Today HIP is used in industry worldwide to produce advanced alloy and ceramic products, particularly complex-shaped parts and products. HIP uses gas pressure and temperature to fabricate parts and products, bond and densify materials, consolidate powders, and heal defects. Developed in order to bond components of small Zircaloy-clad pin-type nuclear fuel elements, the process was soon applied to compact powders for use in tool steel, superalloys for jet engines, and materials for space applications. The strict dimensional control provided in a HIP vessel makes it useful as a manufacturing technique for near-net-shape processing and other complex fabrications.