Abstract
The progress of HIP (Hot Isostatic Pressing) and CIP (Cold Isostatic Pressing) technology is discussed from the historical viewpoint and their future potential. Both technologies have been recognized as a useful method to obtain products with isotropic properties, uniform and high density and applied to the manufacture of some PM products and ceramic components. Especially in Japan these resultant natures attracted attentions of ceramic researchers, because both technologies could compensate for the lack of reliability due to the residual porosity formed in the forming and sintering stages. Nozzles for continuous casting of steel, ceramic balls, large carbon blocks and zirconia oxygen sensors have been produced by CIP and high speed tool steel billets, alumina cutting tool inserts, soft ferrite for magnetic recording heads by HIP. Entering the 21st century, slow-downed economy, reduced processing cost and environmental friendliness are demanding further development of smaller and lighter products with higher mechanical or electronic properties. As the requirement for the higher productivity in both processes is also getting severe, HIP/CIP equipment technology closely connected with the processing cost is changing to meet this requirement.
