Eliminating Thermally Induced Porosity: Advances in HIP and High-Pressure Heat Treatment (HPHT™)

Thermally induced porosity (TIP) is a well-documented phenomenon originating from distinct mechanisms affecting multiple material systems, including cast, and additively manufactured (AM) metallic components. In castings, TIP primarily results from solidification dynamics, whereas in powder-bed fusion (PBF), entrapped gas can form voids. Heat treatment plays a crucial role in TIP evolution, often leading to pore growth and expansion, which degrades mechanical properties such as strength, fatigue resistance, and ductility which ultimately impacts product performance.

This presentation will explore TIP in castings and additively manufactured metals, emphasizing its evolution during heat treatment. Various mitigation strategies will be discussed, including the use of advanced hot isostatic pressing (HIP) technology and a novel High-Pressure Heat Treatment (HPHT™) strategy, which not only eliminate porosity but also prevent its re-emergence and expansion.