Container for hot consolidating powder

Claim 1

A method for hot consolidating powder of metallic and non-metallic composition and combinations thereof to form a densified compact, said method comprising the steps of: (a) providing a container by forming a cavity having the general shape of the compact to be produced in a mass of container material which is substantially fully dense and incompressible and is capable of plastic flow at elevated temperatures, the volume of said mass being sufficiently large with respect to the volume of said cavity to form walls entirely surrounding said cavity of sufficient thickness so that the exterior surface of the walls do not closely follow the contour of said cavity, (b) filling said cavity with a powder to be compacted, (c) hermetically sealing said container, (d) heating said container and powder to a temperature at which said mass is capable of plastic flow and the powder is susceptible to compaction and applying external pressure to the entire exterior surface of said container to apply a hydrostatic pressure to the powder in said cavity to densify said powder into a compact, and (e) cooling said container and compact and removing said container from said compact.

Claim 2

A method for hot consolidating powder of metallic and non-metallic composition and combinations thereof to form a densified compact, said method comprising the steps of: (a) providing a container by forming a cavity having the general shape of the compact to be produced in a mass of container material which is substantially fully dense and incompressible and is capable of plastic flow at elevated temperatures, the volume of said mass being sufficiently large with respect to the volume of said cavity to form walls entirely surrounding said cavity of sufficient thickness so that the exterior surface of the walls do not closely follow the contour of said cavity, (b) filling said cavity with a powder to be compacted, (c) hermetically sealing said container, (d) heating said container and powder to a temperature at which said mass is capable of plastic flow and the powder is susceptible to compaction and applying external pressure to the entire exterior surface of said container to apply a hydrostatic pressure to the powder in said cavity to densify said powder into a compact, and (e) cooling said container and compact and removing said container from said compact.

Claim 3

A method for hot consolidating powder of metallic and non-metallic composition and combinations thereof to form a densified powder compact comprising the steps of (a) encapsulating a quantity of powder in a thick-walled metal container wherein the walls of the container entirely surround the powder and are substantially fully dense and incompressible and are capable of plastic flow at predetermined temperatures and pressures, (b) heating the container and powder to a temperature at which the powder will densify and (c) applying pressure to the entire exterior surface of the heated container by pressing the container between the dies of a press while restraining the container the applied pressure being of sufficient magnitude to cause plastic flow at the container walls thereby subjecting the powder to a hydrostatic pressure which causes it to densify.

Claim 4

A method for hot consolidating powder of metallic and non-metallic composition and combinations thereof to form a densified powder compact comprising the steps of (a) encapsulating a quantity of powder in a thick-walled metal container wherein the walls of the container entirely surround the powder and are substantially fully dense and incompressible and are capable of plastic flow at predetermined temperatures and pressures, (b) heating the container and powder to a temperature at which the powder will densify and (c) applying pressure to the entire exterior surface of the heated container by pressing the container between the dies of a press while restraining the container the applied pressure being of sufficient magnitude to cause plastic flow at the container walls thereby subjecting the powder to a hydrostatic pressure which causes it to densify.

Claim 6

A method for hot consolidating powder to form a densified powder compact comprising the steps of (a) encapsulating a quantity of powder in a thick-walled low carbon steel container wherein the walls of the container entirely surround the powder and are substantially fully dense and incompressible and are capable of plastic flow at temperatures above 1,000° F. and a pressure exceeding 5,000 psi, (b) preheating the container and powder to a temperature above 1,000° F. and (c) applying a pressure above 5,000 psi to the entire exterior surface of the container by pressing the container between the dies of a press while restraining the container thereby causing plastic flow of the container walls to subject the powder to a hydrostatic pressure which causes it to densify.

Claim 7

A method for hot consolidating powder to form a densified powder compact comprising the steps of (a) encapsulating a quantity of powder in a thick-walled low carbon steel container wherein the walls of the container entirely surround the powder and are substantially fully dense and incompressible and are capable of plastic flow at temperatures above 1,000° F. and a pressure exceeding 5,000 psi, (b) preheating the container and powder to a temperature above 1,000° F. and (c) applying a pressure above 5,000 psi to the entire exterior surface of the container by pressing the container between the dies of a press while restraining the container thereby causing plastic flow of the container walls to subject the powder to a hydrostatic pressure which causes it to densify.