Gas Pressure Sintering Plants (GPS)

This combined gas pressure sintering process is characterized by initial debinding at low pressure, followed by sintering at atmospheric pressure – during which closed porosity is achieved in the material – and final sintering at high pressure, leading to further densification and removal of residual pores. As a result, materials manufactured using the GPS process exhibit superior mechanical properties (e.g. hardness, flexural strength, Weibull modulus, fracture toughness) compared to those made by conventional sintering methods.

GPS systems are especially suitable for sintering ceramics or metals that tend to decompose at higher temperatures or cannot be fully densified using standard sintering processes. Unlike hot pressing, this method does not restrict the geometry of the sintered parts and serves as a cost-effective alternative to the expensive HIP process.

Our GPS furnaces can be equipped with an integrated dilatometer to measure shrinkage and shrinkage rate during the sintering cycle. The resulting data is used to control the process. Currently, working volumes from 1 dm3 to 500 dm3 at 2200°C and 10 MPa (in N2 or Ar) can be realized.

Applications include production of:

Sintered silicon nitride and Sialon with excellent mechanical properties (e.g. cutting tools, turbocharger rotors, engine components)
Silicon carbide (mechanically stressed components under corrosive environments)
Superalloys (high-load components for high-temperature applications)
Hard metals, particularly sintered carbides with low cobalt content and high mechanical performance
Composites in general

A particularly promising application of this process is the series production of SSN parts for the automotive industry.

Standard Types: