Mechanical Processing

Hot Isostatic Pressing (HIP)

Hot Isostatic Pressing (HIP) combines high pressure and high temperature, using inert gas—typically argon—to eliminate porosity and achieve full densification of powder-based components. It is ideal for parts made by sintering, additive manufacturing, or metal injection moulding, enhancing mechanical strength and structural integrity while preserving shape. At MBN, HIP is used for both material development and prototyping. Our in-house Quintus QIH-15 Mini-HIPper reproduces industrial HIP conditions on a lab scale, supporting fast testing and optimization. It operates up to 1500 bar and 2000 °C, with a 203 x 305 mm work zone and multiple furnace configurations (FeCrAl, Molybdenum, Graphite). Fully automated pressure and temperature control ensures consistent and reproducible cycles. This platform enables validation of MBN’s nanostructured alloys and composites, as well as HIP-as-a-service for clients requiring dense, high-performance components, small batch production, or material qualification. MBN’s HIP capability bridges the gap between innovation and industrial application Graphite furnace Capacity: 203diam x 305length mm Pressure: up to 2000 bar Temperature: up to 2000 °C

Pressure-less Sintering and Thermal Treatments

Our high-temperature furnaces, operating under high vacuum or controlled atmospheres—including argon, hydrogen, nitrogen, or their mixtures—enable the pressure-less sintering of a wide range of materials, such as titanium alloys, cemented carbides, advanced steels, and more. The same equipment is also used for thermal treatments like annealing, stress relieving, or phase transformation, to impart the desired mechanical properties to powder-based materials. Custom thermal cycles can be designed according to application requirements, with precise control over temperature profiles, heating and cooling rates, and gas atmospheres at different processing stages. Capacity: up to 100kg Temperature: up to 1500°C

Sputtering targets

Composite powders developed and designed for advanced materials for sputtering targets, powder metallurgy, and thermal spray applications. HEBM allows the solid-state dispersion of elemental materials with vastly different melting points, avoiding full alloying or unwanted intermetallic phases. The result is a customizable powder composition, often involving 3 or more elements, engineered for specific application requirements. Key benefits of HEBM powders: ◉ Ultra-fine dispersion of phases at nano to submicron scale ◉ Custom formulations beyond conventional alloying limits ◉ High purity materials (up to 4N grade) processed in inert atmosphere and lined reactors (Ti, Ni, Cu, Fe systems) Available compositions include: • WNiCr, WNi, WCu, WMo, WTi • NiCuSi, NiCuCr, FeNi • TiAl, ZnTi Powders are available in tailored particle size distributions suitable for producing rotary sputtering targets with controlled microstructures and optimized performance.

Hot Pressing (SPS/FAST)

The hot-pressing systems available at MBN allow the simultaneous application of uniaxial pressure and high temperature to densify powder materials in a controlled atmosphere. This technique combines sintering and shaping in a single step, significantly enhancing densification kinetics while limiting grain growth and preserving the microstructure. Our equipment supports current-assisted hot pressing (also known as SPS/FAST), offering precise control over heating rates, holding times, and applied load. This enables the production of high-density components with fine microstructures and tailored mechanical, electrical, or magnetic properties—particularly suitable for hard metals, refractory materials, intermetallics, and advanced steels. Hot pressing is ideal for prototypes where conventional sintering falls short in achieving the required density or dimensional stability. Graphite mold Sintering surface: 100cm2 Pressure force: max 340kN Temperature: max 1050°C

Direct Extrusion of Powder-Based Materials

MBN offers direct extrusion of powder-based materials, performed with or without a metallic capsule depending on the powder type and application needs. Encapsulated extrusion ensures full densification and protection for reactive powders, while capsule-free extrusion is suited for more ductile systems. The process compacts powders into fully dense long bars with circular or rectangular cross-sections, which can be cut, milled, and machined into final components. Extrusion at high temperature and pressure promotes strong particle bonding and grain alignment, enhancing mechanical properties. MBN has developed expertise with materials such as copper and light alloys, including aluminum and magnesium-aluminum systems. Equipped with dedicated presses and furnaces, MBN supports both prototyping and small-scale production of advanced powder-based components. Billet diam: max 80mm, length: 120mm Pressure force: max400tons Applicable to: aluminum, steels, Copper Heated die: max 400°C