Recent Trends of HIP Technology Inside and Outside Japan

Abstract

Fifty years have passed since the HIP process was invented and it has now become an indispensable process for the manufacture of some high-value added products like jet engine turbine blades and ceramic ball bearings. In Europe and US, HIP units have been getting larger and larger due to the demands for processing larger components and reducing processing cost, and most HIP treatments are now being carried out in toll HIPing companies on a subcontract basis. In Japan, rejuvenation of turbine blades for industrial gas turbines has been carried out and super-conductor cables made of oxide ceramics are processed in the oxygen partial pressure controlled atmosphere by using a special high pressure gas furnace like a HIP unit. Large projects related to the next generation commercial jet plane, B787 and ITER nuclear fusion reactor have now set out and HIP treatment is expected to play important roles in these projects in the coming decade.