Production of powder composites by HIP

Materials are subject to complex, mechanical, thermal, chemical and tribulogic stresses according to their fields of application. Therefore the properties of materials and components have to meet specific requirements. With regard to costs it makes sense to develop the material properties for a special part only to the degree that is required for the very case of application. Composites, e.g. with a relatively cheap base material and sufficient strength but with a highly wear–resistant surface layer fit for reworking or a corrossion–resistant surface coating can be favourably used for several industrial applications. Such composites can be produced from powder or molten material variants by hot isostatic pressing. The basic technique is reported, and material properties attain able for a steel–nickel base material composite as well as possible fields of application are shown.