Joining of dissimilar metals has always attracted attention of researchers because of their wider applications in aerospace, defense and naval applications. Explosive cladding is one of the non-conventional diffusion bonding techniques, which offers strong and metallurgical bonds in dissimilar metal combinations. Attempts were made to explosively clad titanium (ASTM grade 1)stainless steel (SS 304L grade) plates using granular nitroglycerine explosive (detonation velocity 2800 m/s). The flyer (titanium) and the parent (SS) plates were of 3.5 mm and 3.0 mm thickness, respectively. The experiments were conducted by adopting a 3 parameter-2 level design matrix and by varying the e/m ratio (1.0 and 1.75), preset angle α (3° and 8°), and stand-off distance (5 mm and 10 mm). All the experiments were open air explosions. The micro structural changes, interfacial wavy configuratio ns and modifications, and the effects of the parameters on the strength of the bond are discussed. Models have been developed correlating the parameters and the strength of the bonds.

Explosive cladding is a non-conventional, solid-phase bonding technique in which bonding between two plates is produced by their high velocity collision induced by the use of explosives. Attempts were made to explosive clad Titanium-Stainless steel (SS 304 L) plates (3.5 and 3.0 mm thick respectively). The experiments were designed to analyze the bonding interface parallel to the detonation direction. The presence of intermetallics, caused by the melting at the interface due to kinetic energy dissipation, was observed in some locations. The process parameters of the explosive welding of Titanium-Stainless steel combination are defined using the microstructural observations, microhardness at the interface, the results of X-ray diffraction study. A weldability window is also constructed for explosive welding of Ti /Ss.

Explosive cladding is a solid state welding process best suited for joining incompatible metals. The selection of process parameters viz., explosive mass ratio, stand off distance and initial angle of inclination dictate the nature of the cladding. Optimization of process parameters in explosive cladding of titanium–stainless steel 304L plates, based on two level three factorial design, is attempted to establish the influencing parameters. Analysis of variance was employed to find the linear, regression and interaction values. Mathematical models to estimate the responses-amplitude and wavelength were developed. The microstructure of the Ti–SS304L explosive clad interface reveals characteristic undulations concurrent with design expectations.

The paper deals with detailed studies on the bond zone morphology of Cu / Ss, Br / Ss, Al / Ss weld combinations of explosive welds. The study becomes significant in view of the importance and wide applicability of these materials in bimetal industry. Explosive welding is a high-energy rate fabrication technique and is increasingly employed to provide sound metallurgical bonding between similar and dissimilar metals with widely varied properties. In this study for the same explosive loading conditions, the different types of bonds obtainable at the interface for three combinations of materials have been investigated. The bond zones showed characteristic features, typical of the explosive welding process. Complex patterns of plastic flow and formation of solidified melt areas were revealed at the interface.