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How can explosives be used to bond metals such as aluminum and steel?
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explosive
A coal miner loading a drill hole with a water gel explosive called Tovex.
Explosive bonding, or explosive welding, is a specialized industrial process used to join metals that are otherwise metallurgically incompatible, such as aluminum and steel.1
The process involves the following steps:
- Setup: Two metal plates are positioned either parallel to each other (separated by a small gap, typically around 6.4 millimeters) or at a slight angle of approximately 5°.21
- Detonation: A layer of specialized explosive material is placed on top of the upper plate.21
- Bonding: Upon detonation, the explosive force drives the plates together at high velocity. This impact causes rapid plastic deformation at the interface, creating a weld in microseconds.2
This technique is highly effective for creating "sandwich" metals, as the resulting bond is exceptionally strong. The joint often exhibits a characteristic wavy appearance, which is caused by a jetting action of the metal occurring between the plates during the collision.12