AIMS Ltd specialise in the fabrication of near-net-shape parts through the densification of metal alloy powders using Hot Isostatic Pressing (HIP). HIP consolidates powders by encapsulating them into an evacuated “can” and then subjecting them to high temperature and inert gas pressure inside a sealed pressure vessel. AIMS have developed their powder encapsulation and “can” pre-treatment processing techniques to maximise their product quality and performance.
Customer feedback suggested that the quality of metal sputtering targets manufactured using AIMS Ltd’s encapsulation process conditions provided an improved standard compared to those from other sources. To identify the exact reasons for this positive change AIMS Ltd successfully applied to the Henry Royce Institute’s SME Equipment Access Scheme. This facilitated them to undertake a project with the Advanced Metals Processing team from Royce at the University of Sheffield.
This project involved AIMS manufacturing a set of steel cans, containing encapsulated powders, using a variety of pre-treatment processes. Royce at the University of Sheffield fully consolidated the powder in these cans using their R&D scale AIP8-45H HIP furnace. Royce’s Application Scientist then assessed the differences in microstructure and oxygen contamination in the final material across the range of samples using their JEOL JSM-7900F scanning electron microscope. This enabled AIMS to link the properties of the consolidated material to their pre-treatment processes and to further understand the basis by which the quality of densified powder metal parts can be influenced prior to HIP processing.
Combining the resources of AIMS Ltd and Royce at the University of Sheffield was effective in demonstrating that despite observation of similar levels of density and microstructural features from different pretreatment practises, the powder pre-treatment practice developed by AIMS Ltd reduced residual oxygen levels in the sputtering target material by more than 60% by comparison to those using more conventional techniques.
Driving the improvement of the overall quality of parts manufactured using HIP densified powders will not only enable growth of existing markets, but the broader application of powder metallurgy (PM) parts for more demanding applications. The HIP/PM route can also positively impact manufacturing time, energy usage,and materials efficiency.
EQUIPMENT USED
- AIP8-45H HIP
- JEOL JSM-7900F SEM
BIO
AIMS Ltd. has spent many years applying and developing Hot Isostatic Processing techniques in relation to powder densification, diffusion bonding, surface engineering and other novel applications. Process capability supports the servicing of customer requirements for the encapsulation of powders, alongside the manufacture of finished extruder modules for the extrusion of polymers and food products. Application of AIMS technology for the unique surface engineering of such extruder units has provided an order of magnitude increase in service life, and present developments provide for net shaping with minimal final machining.
For further details of AIMS’s capabilities you can visit https://www.aimsltd.com/net.htm or contact info@aimsltd.com.