Abstract: The invention relates to a process for fabricating complex mechanical shapes, and in particular to fabricating complex mechanical shapes using a pressure-assisted sintering technique to address problems relating to variations in specimen thickness and tooling, or densification gradients, by 3-D printing of a polymer model that is surrounded by and filled with sintering powder material, wherein the 3-D polymer model decomposed into a graphite interface layer and facilitates release of the cast, e.g. metal, metal-alloy, ceramic, etc., manufactured item.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for fabricating complex mechanical shapes from metal or ceramic, and in particular to fabricating complex mechanical shapes using a pressure-assisted sintering technique to address problems relating to variations in specimen thickness and tooling, or densification gradients, by 3-D printing of a sacrificial, self-destructing powder mold is created using e.g. alumina and swellable binders such as polysaccharides. The binder-free sintering powder that forms the manufactured item is injected into the mold, and high pressure is applied. The powder assembly can then be sintered by any pressure assisted technique to full densification and the self-destructing mold allows the release of the fully densified complex manufactured item.

Abstract: An assembly for densification under load along at least one direction of compression. The assembly includes: at least one volume to be densified having a powdery and/or porous composition and having variations in thickness along the direction of compression; and at least one counter-form of a powdery and/or porous composition, having at least one face facing at least one portion of the volume. The face and each of the portions are separated by at least one deformable interface layer.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for fabricating complex mechanical shapes from metal or ceramic, and in particular to fabricating complex mechanical shapes using a pressure-assisted sintering technique to address problems relating to variations in specimen thickness and tooling, or densification gradients, by 3-D printing of a sacrificial, self-destructing powder mold is created using e.g. alumina and swellable binders such as polysaccharides. The binder-free sintering powder that forms the manufactured item is injected into the mold, and high pressure is applied. The powder assembly can then be sintered by any pressure assisted technique to full densification and the self-destructing mold allows the release of the fully densified complex manufactured item.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for fabricating complex mechanical shapes, and in particular to fabricating complex mechanical shapes using a pressure-assisted sintering technique to address problems relating to variations in specimen thickness and tooling, or densification gradients, by 3-D printing of a polymer model that is surrounded by and filled with sintering powder material, wherein the 3-D polymer model decomposed into a graphite interface layer and facilitates release of the cast, e.g. metal, metal-alloy, ceramic, etc., manufactured item.

Abstract: An assembly for densification under load along at least one direction of compression. The assembly includes: at least one volume to be densified having a powdery and/or porous composition and having variations in thickness along the direction of compression; and at least one counter-form of a powdery and/or porous composition, having at least one face facing at least one portion of the volume. The face and each of the portions are separated by at least one deformable interface layer.