On the distribution of argon in PM HIP material, and creation of a reference material at a suitable level

Detection of a raised argon level in PM HIP material is a critical quality control. Because of the way argon is distributed, detection of a low content of argon is required, especially in PM HIP material made from nitrogen-atomized powder. In the first section of this paper, a study on the distribution of argon is described. Secondly, the published standard (EN ISO 5842:2023) requires the use of an argon-containing reference material. Such a material was produced and is now available in large quantities thanks to a number of research partners and collaborating organizations. The method used to produce this reference material, as well as its stability, uniformity, and variability in terms of reported content, is described in the second part of this paper. This constitutes the last piece of the puzzle, which enables robust and standardized quality control of PM HIP material.