Hot Isostatic Pressing

A manufacturing process, where materials are pressed into shape.

In hot isostatic pressing (known as HIP) the material to be pressed is placed in a sealed chamber (that normally contains an inert gas so that the material does not chemically react). The chamber is heated, and the pressure inside the chamber increased. The use of a gas to apply the pressure means that the pressure is applied to the material from all directions (hence the use of 'iso' in 'isostatic').

Often used as part of a sintering process.