Hot pressing is a high-pressure, low-strain-rate powder metallurgy process for forming of a powder or powder compact at a temperature high enough to induce sintering and creep processes. This is achieved by the simultaneous application of heat and pressure.
Hot pressing is mainly used to fabricate hard and brittle materials. One large use is in the consolidation of diamond-metal composite cutting tools and technical ceramics. The densification works through particle rearrangement and plastic flow at the particle contacts. The loose powder or the pre-compacted part is in most of the cases filled to a graphite mould that allows induction or resistance heating up to temperatures of typically 2,400 °C.
Graphite materials have the right characteristics to fit the application:
- thermal conductivity
- positive pressure resistance at high temperatures
- configurable electrical conductivity of graphite materials over broad ranges
Graphite components can be used as electrodes for resistance-heated presses and as integrated elements for inductive-heated presses.
Do not hesitate to contact us for any questions.