A wavy versus straight interface in the explosive welding of aluminum to steel

Waveless, explosively welded interfaces between aluminum and steel are seen to be devoid of intermetallic formation and maintain integrity with heat exposures of up to 8 h at 550 °C. Microhardness determinations as well as tensile testing of the samples indicate the interface to be a zone of higher hardness than the weaker of the bonded materials (Al‐1100) and of extremely high adhesion strength. The hardness profiles taken were utilized to determine the difference in the energy deposited at the wavy and waveless interface as well as the presence of extraneous byproducts of these energies in the respective interfaces. The study conclusively shows the superior characteristics of the waveless interface for this weld and its resistance to intermetallic formation that would lead to the consequential deterioration of the associated adhesion properties of these transition joints.