Combined Hot Isostatic Pressing and Rapid Quenching as a post processing option for AM parts

Hot isostatic pressing (HIP) is a post processing step commonly applied to Additive Manufactured (AM) parts, in order to increase their performances. In some sector HIP is a mandatory step of the AM parts fabrication route, e.g. aeronautic field. In front of the clear technical advantages, HIP is a cost and time consuming operation, especially due to the typical slow cooling. The combination of HIP step and following rapid queching is highly attractive in saving at least an unuseful cooling stage and the following heating ramp for the quench step.The paper addresses the benefits of an integrated design of AM-HIP-quench manufacturing route, in terms of fine control of the microstructure, of improving the integrity of fabricated parts and of containing the distortions related to heat treatment steps.Detailed microstructural analysis through optical and field emission scanning electron microscopy are given. Evidence of parts healing due to HIP steps are provided through X-ray tomography. Dimensional accuracy analysis after different steps of the fabrication route are reported. Major material grades considered within the paper are Ni superalloys.Final remarks on the integration of advanced fabrication routes for engineering components are given.