Abstract: A shaped body is formed by cold-pressing a powdered material into a desired shape and then providing thereon a surface layer of a material having a lower melting point than the powder of the shaped body. The shaped body is then placed in a furnace connectable to vacuum equipment, wherein the pressure is first lowered to a value lower than atmospheric pressure and then the temperature is increased so that the material of the surface layer melts. Thereafter the body is isostatically hot-pressed under the direct influence of an inert, gaseous pressure medium, the powder particles being thus bound together to high density by pressure sintering.