With the rapid development of modern science and industrial technology, single metals or alloys are restricted by working conditions and cost. It is challenging to meet the requirements for current applications. Copper (Cu)–steel bimetal composites, composed of copper and steel, have performances of the two metals and low cost. They have drawn extensive attention worldwide and have been developed by many scholars for many years. The new preparations are studies to promote performances of the copper–steel bimetal composites and many literatures have also reported different applications of the copper–steel bimetal composites. Up to today, the developing copper–steel bimetal composites have made a great progress. This paper is mainly concerned with the progress of research on the preparation of copper–steel bimetal composites. The preparations are classified according to the forming state of copper and steel. Furthermore, the industrial applications of copper–steel bimetal composites and the prospects of future development are introduced.

In this study, a Cr₃C₂-NiCr cermet cladding layer was prepared on the surface of Q235 steel via a high-speed laser cladding method. The effects of laser power, scanning speed, and overlap rate on the microstructure, cladding quality, and interfacial elements diffusion of Cr₃C₂-NiCr/Q235 steel were studied. The results show that there was an obvious transition layer at the interface of the Cr₃C₂-NiCr cladding layer and Q235 steel, indicating that the Cr₃C₂-NiCr cladding layer had an adequate metallurgical bond with the matrix. Fe, Cr, and Ni were diffused distinctly between the cladding layer and the matrix. The height and width of the Cr₃C₂-NiCr cladding layer increased, while the dilution rate decreased with the increase in the laser power. The maximum thickness of the transition layer was about 50 μm for the 6 mm/s sample, the weld heat affected zone was smaller, and it was shown that the productivity can be effectively improved. The sample with a 40% overlap rate exhibited the best flatness. The optimal laser power, scanning speed, and overlap rate of the Cr₃C₂-NiCr/Q235 steel were 1500 W, 6 mm/s, and 40%, respectively.