The combination of pressure and temperature is used to maximize a powder compacts homogeneous densification by e.g., softening the polymer binder between brittle particles, or for activating additional slip systems in ductile metals, to facilitate reordering of particles for improved densification.
HIP (Hot Isostatic Pressing) densifies components at high temperatures, eliminating internal defects such as pores, voids, cracks, and lack of fusion. This process enhances material properties, including fatigue strength, elongation at failure, and impact toughness, which are crucial for mission-critical applications in industries like aerospace, nuclear, and medical.
A defect-free bulk allows surface finishing techniques, such as grinding and polishing, further improving fatigue resistance, corrosion resistance, hygiene, and aesthetics.
Quintus uses a standard pressure vessel rating of 200MPa gas pressure for HIP equipment up to 1.6m diameter and 600MPa for the CIP, WIP, and HPP systems using liquids as pressure media.
However, with Quintus’ innovative wire-wound pressure vessels and over 70 years of experience in designing and manufacturing them, we can offer extensive customization to meet specific customer needs, when feasible.
HIP is used to consolidate powders, solids and combinations thereof. Materials range from ceramics to metals and composite materials. Light-weight materials, high speed steels, tool steels and super alloys all use HIP, and new generations of materials such as high entropy alloys are also developed using this process.
In discussion with Quintus, you will be able to optimise the footprint in your facility to ensure that productivity is ensured. We help in layout discussions and can arrange the machine layout to make best use of your space. This ensures good planning of civil work, transportation and installation. We help you to get up and running so that you can increase the return on your investment.
As the high-pressure gas is working isotopically on all exposed surfaces of the treated components, the general shape of the parts does not change from the HIP process making it possible to treat any component shape if the surfaces are gas-tight.
Castings, MIM, sintered powder compacts, and AM parts are all possible to HIP, and canned powders are formed into solid components (processes called PM HIP or PM NNS (Near Net Shape)).
Flexform is since decades well established within the aerospace industry, both for airframe, engine and space sheet metal part production. The aerospace industry request for high quality parts in relatively small volumes of each, at a high variety, make the technology a perfect fit.
The technology is also a great fit for all industries where prototyping and low volume production is required, such as automotive, busses, trucks, yellow goods, food processing equipment, white goods, building façades etc.
Beside the final part quality, the main perceived benefit is the low fabrication cost. This due to the low tool cost involved. The process also allows for several tools and parts to be produced in one and the same forming operation. 50-90% of conventional 2-piece tool cost may typically be saved by using the Flexform technology.
From thin foil up to ~10 mm sheet metal may be formed, typically however thicknesses of 1-5 mm are used, including traditional aerospace aluminum alloys, stainless and most mild steel alloys. Tough alloys such as Inconel and titanium may also be formed.
Within the aerospace industry the use of high-pressure typically reduce, or even eliminate, the need for labor hand correction and the need for intermediate heat treatments.
In all applications the high-pressure support forming of complex and intricate shapes, at excellent repeatability and part quality.
The flexible diaphragm in the fluid cell press allows most kind of forming in block dies, cavity dies and expansion dies. Shallow/small tools may be mixed with high/large tools in one and the same forming operation. Undercuts, intricate shapes, as well as trimming and cutting may be performed by the fluid cell technology. The fluid cell press provides full pressure all over the tool surface, contrary to the rubber pad process where the pressure drops dramatically in the lower section of for example a block tool.
The production series of warm isostatic battery presses are able to deliver pressures up to 600 MPa, while reaching temperatures of 150 degree Celsius (pressure media can be water or oil).
That depends on the cells design for an in-situ (or anode-free) lithium metal anode concept Quintus proposes a densification step of whole pouch cells. This position would fit the isostatic press after stacking and pouching.
The upfront investment seems high, but is rather low compared to other machinery used in today’s battery manufacturing. Calculations with a realistic cost-model we established, put isostatic pressing in the lower cent area per KWh. The calculation model fits different parameters, the ones that show a high impact are pouch dimensions and vessel size, which can be adapted to customers preferences.
The batch characteristic is an important topic for discussion. Our simulation shows that automation of the loading, unloading and densification won’t be a challenge for the implementation of isostatic pressing in the overall process. Additionally, the speed of stacking/winding is limiting the process speed before densification.
We are open for different approaches, but focusing more on the pouch cell format. Concepts featuring a lithium metal anode or in situ lithium metal anode are very interesting for us on a production level of testing. We are testing solid-state electrolyte systems featuring sulfides, oxides and composites on a daily basis in our application centers in Sweden and the US.
HPP is commercially used in wide range of foods and beverages such as ready-to-eat deli meats, fruit and dairy based drinks, baby foods, dairy products, pet food, ready meals, ready-to-cook marinated meats and meals, seafood, and wide variety of plant-based products including guacamole, hummus, salsa, ready-to-eat salads, tofu and plant-based protein meat analogues.
Most food and beverages are applicable for HPP technology. However, certain intrinsic and extrinsic factors are important in determining HPP conditions and satisfying regulatory rules and guidelines.
We support the customers throughout the complete HPP development process. From recipes to packaging to designing and providing in-house validation services. Our comprehensive evaluation and support is geared for getting your product in the market quickly.
Our Quintus ® Care Program reflects our culture of true partnership, as witnessed by near three quarters of a century pioneering pressure technologies. Your immediate and long term benefits of Quintus ® Care includes controlling ongoing operational costs, guaranteed access to parts, regular technical reviews and remedial training, application support, as well as opportunities to participate in ongoing educational seminars
During HPP the pressure reaches up to 6,000 bar (87,000 psi). At this pressure, products will compress approximately 15% of their volume, meaning that HPP packaging must be waterproof, hermetically sealed, and include materials which are flexible to withstand compressions of at least 15%. For these reasons, different plastic materials have traditionally been a popular choice for HPP since many of these are flexible enough to allow containers to compress without breaking and elastic enough to retake their original shapes after the process. Additionally, several sustainable alternatives can be used with HPP such as rPET, PP, PLA and other biodegradable solutions.
Commonly used packaging and materials for HPP include bottles, cups, pouches, trays, in combination with various types of films or closures. Sealing surfaces for films need to be relatively wide, uniform and preferably flat. Sealability (heat seal strength) is an important element for packaging that is subjected to HPP. Cross-hatched patterns are not suitable as they can allow oxygen
diffusion into the packages that will contribute to oxidative deterioration of products.
Definitely. HPP guarantees food safety and achieves an increased shelf life, while maintaining the optimum attributes of fresh products. In addition, HPP is highly recognized by numerous food safety authorities (FDA, EFSA…). Food safety is achieved by inactivating vegetative pathogens, including bacteria, viruses, molds, yeasts and parasites by applying 400 MPa (4000 bar/58,000 psi) to 600 MPa (6000 bar/87,000 psi), for a few seconds to around 6 minutes.
We support customer in priority order. Our Quintus care full customers are priority, secondly our Quintus care base customers and after that the broader market. Each Quintus care customer has a Key Account Manager to feed the dialog through Quintus services to you as customers.
Do you want to know more about Quintus care?
With over 70 years of expertise, we are the global leader. Many of our machines operate reliably after more than 40 years. However, even the most advanced technology can occasionally face challenges.
Discussion with our support team helps to ensure any potential problems are addressed promptly and efficiently. We can help you minimize downtime and maintain optimal performance. The applied strategy for uptime is:
Studies shows that maintenance cost for a normal machine within the Industrial sector is around 6-7%/year of the investment and our full fledge Quintus Care is normally well below that. The full fledge SLA allows you to control all the cost for the material. Whereas the base agreement leaves the material portion open for sourcing to Quintus on need basis, or towards other suppliers.
Over the years we have developed our service level agreements; Quintus care in two main offers.
The base offer gives you support priority, remote tech support, application support (some countries this cannot be offered to), annual f2f trainings and annual maintenance, safety and reliability inspection.
Quintus care full additionally to the base also includes all spare parts for preventative maintenance, as well as covering spare parts if something unexpected happens (with some exceptions).
Being proactive about maintenance with a Quintus care contract keeps your costs planned and secures the best possible uptime for your system.
Share your concerns with your dedicated account manager or through the Quintus customer web portal. This can help address specific issues and improve the service.
Ask for a review of the SLA terms to see if adjustments can be made to better meet your needs.
