This paper studies the weld interface microstructure and mechanical properties of AlMg6-stainless steel and AlMg6-titanium bimetals produced using explosive welding. The microhardness (HV), tear strength, and microstructure of the weld seams were evaluated. The interface of the weld zones had a flat profile. No structural disturbances or heterogeneity in the AlMg6-titanium weld interface were observed. On the other hand, the bimetal AlMg6-stainless steel had extensive zones of cast inclusions in the 10–30 µm range. SEM/energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) analysis showed the presence of a hard and brittle intermetallic compound of Al and FeAl₃ (with 770–800 HV). The microhardness of the AlMg6-titanium bimetal grew higher closer to the weld interface and reached 207 HV (for AlMg6) and 340 HV (for titanium). Both bimetals had average tear strength below 100 MPa. However, the tear strength of some specimens reached 186 and 154 MPa for AlMg6-titanium and AlMg6-stainless steel, respectively. It is also worth mentioning that heat treatment at 200 °C for one hour led to a uniform distribution of tear strength along the entire length of the bimetals. The study shows that one of the possible solutions to the problem of the formation of the brittle intermetallic compounds would be the use of intermediate layers of refractory metals.

The parameters of combustion synthesis and shock-wave initiation of reactive W/PTFE/Al compacts are investigated. Preliminary thermodynamic calculations showed the possibility of combustion of the W/PTFE/Al system at high adiabatic temperatures (up to 2776 °C) and a large proportion of condensed combustion products. The effect of the Al content (5, 10, 20, and 30 wt%) in the W/PTFE/Al system on the ignition and development of exothermic reactions was determined. Ignition temperatures and combustion rates were measured in argon, air, and rarefied air. A correlation between the gas medium, rate, and temperature of combustion was found. The shock initiation in W/PTFE/Al compacts with different Al content was examined. The extent of reaction in all compacts was studied by X-ray diffraction. The compositions with 10 and 20 wt% Al showed the highest completeness of synthesis after combustion and shock-wave initiation.

This work is devoted to the study of the processes that take place in the welding gap during explosive welding (EW). In the welding gap, when plates collide, a shock-compressed gas (SCG) region is formed, which moves at supersonic speed and has a high temperature that can affect the quality of the weld joint. Therefore, this work focuses on a detailed study of the parameters of the SCG. A complex method of determining the SCG parameters included: determination of the detonation velocity using electrical contact probes, ceramic probes, and an oscilloscope; calculation of the SCG parameters; high-speed photography of the SCG region; measurement of the SCG temperature using optical pyrometry. As a result, it was found that the head front of the SCG region moved ahead of the collision point at a velocity of 3000 ± 100 m/s, while the collision point moved with a velocity of 2500 m/s. The calculation of the SCG temperature showed that the gas was heated up to 2832 K by the shock compression, while the measured temperature was in the range of 4100–4400 K. This is presumably due to the fact that small metal particles that broke off from the welded surfaces transferred their heat to the SCG region. Thus, the results of this study can be used to optimize the EW parameters and improve the weld joint quality.

This paper presents the results of a study of the morphology and structure at the weld interface in a brass–Invar bimetal, which belongs to the class of so-called thermostatic bimetals, or thermobimetals. The structure of the brass–Invar weld interface was analyzed using optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), with the use of energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectrometry and back-scattered electron diffraction (BSE) to identify the phases. The distribution of the crystallographic orientation of the grains at the weld interface was obtained using an e-Flash HR electron back-scatter diffraction (EBSD) detector and a forward-scatter detector (FSD). The results of the study indicated that the weld interface had the wavy structure typical of explosive welding. The wave crests and troughs showed the presence of melted zones consisting of a disordered Cu–Zn–Fe–Ni solid solution and undissolved Invar particles. The pattern quality map showed that the structure of brass and Invar after explosive welding consisted of grains that were strongly elongated towards the area of the highest intensive plastic flow. In addition, numerous deformation twins, dislocation accumulations and shear bands were observed. Thus, based on the results of this study, the mechanism of Cu–Zn–Fe–Ni structure formation can be proposed.

The influence of kinematic parameters of explosive welding of brass L63 with Invar 36N on the quality of the layers and the structure of the welding zone of thermobimetal grade TB 1353 (TB 130/17) was experimentally studied. It is shown that, since alloy L63 containing a fusible component (zinc) is used as an active layer in the thermobimetal, the choice of welding mode should be carried out taking into account the prevention of the “ejection” effect. In this case, the flow of shock-compressed gas with high pressure, moving in the gap at high speed, carries a low-melting phase; therefore, the strength of the connection is reduced up to full loss of strength, and also the phase (chemical) homogeneity of the layers in the welding zone is violated. Joints of the thermobimetals were tested with an ultrasonic flow detector. The structure of the welding zone was investigated by optical and electron microscopy on a metallographic section. The toughness of layers during breaking off was determined on ring samples. Tests on lateral bending and bending of the cladding layer inside were carried out. The optimum mode providing the explosive welding in the solid phase with 100% continuity of the adhesion layers and toughness of layers during breaking off at the level of the strength of brass and the high-grade structure of the weld zone was determined.