Method for hot consolidating materials

A method for hot consolidating material (10) of metallic and nonmetallic compositions and combinations thereof to form a densified compact (10') of a predetermined density wherein a quantity of such material (10) which is less dense than the predetermined density is heated and disposed in a compaction cavity in a pressure-transmitting medium (22, 24) to which external pressure is applied to the entire exterior of the medium (22, 24) to cause a predetermined densification of the material by hydrostatic pressure applied by a medium (22, 24) in response to the medium being substantially fully dense and incompressible and capable of elastic flow at least just prior to the predetermined densification, said method including the steps of utilizing an elastomeric for the pressure-transmitting medium (22, 24) to define a first component (22) of elastomeric medium disposed within a pot die cavity (26) and a second component (24) of the elastomeric medium acted upon by a ram (16) movable into and out of the pot die cavity (26) in close sliding engagement therewith, positioning the first (22) and second (24) elastomeric components so that the ram (16) enters the cavity (26) of the pot die (14) prior to the first (22) and second (24) elastomeric components being compressed between said ram and pot die, heating the material (10) prior to placement in the compaction cavity defined by the first and second components (22, 24) of the elastomeric medium, encapsulating the material (10) in at least a portion of a formed and self-sustaining thermal insulating barrier means (32, 34) before placing the heated material into the compaction cavity, placing the thermal barrier means (32, 34) with the heated material encapsulated therein into the compaction cavity of the elastomeric medium, and applying pressure to the medium (22, 24) by moving the ram into the pot die and crumbling the barrier means (32, 34) into incompressibility while surrounding the material (10) to limit heat transfer between the material (10) and the elastomeric medium (22, 24), successively opening and closing the first and second components (22, 24) of elastomeric medium upon opening and closing of the ram (16) and pot die (14) in a press to successively form a plurality of densified compacts with a plurality of formed barrier means.