Development of Hot Isostatic Pressing Technology for Investment Cast Products

Hot isostatic pressing (HIPping) technology is used for healing the casting defects for aerospace applications. Castings used for aerospace applications like turbo-pumps need to meet very stringent quality requirements. Complexity of the castings used in these applications, makes it difficult to meet the quality requirements in all the areas. Defects like gas holes, shrinkages, cavities etc. may occur in few locations and need to be repaired by welding or healed by HIPping. In the present study, we attempted to simulate the defect healing capability of HIP in a systematic manner. Artificial defects were created in Austenite-Martensite grade stainless steel cast rod. These rods were then subjected to HIP prcoss cycle at 1150 °C and at a pressure of 1620 bar. Healing of the defects was ensured through X-ray radiography. Detailed microstructural analysis using optical metallography and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with EDX was carried out before and after HIPping, to understand the defect healing mechanisms. These results are discussed in detail here.