METHOD OF FORMING COMPACTS

A process of hot pressing of materials to form articles or compacts is characterized by the steps: (A) providing a compactable particulate mixture; (B) uniaxially pressing the particles without heating to provide article or compact (22); (C) placing at least one article or compact (22) in an open pan (31) having an insertable frame (32) with edge surfaces (34) that are not significantly pressure deformable, where the inside side surfaces of the frame are parallel to the central axis B-B of the open pan, and where each article or compact is surrounded by fine particles of a separating material; (D) evacuating air from the container and sealing the articles or compacts inside the container by means of top lid (36); (E) hot pressing the compacts at a pressure from 352.5 kg/cm2 to 3,172 kg/cm2 to provide simultaneous hot pressing and densification of the articles or compacts; (F) gradually cooling and releasing the pressure; and, (G) separating the articles or compacts from the container, where there is no heating of the compacts in the process before step (E).