EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATIONS OF THE BONDING ZONE IN THE EXPLOSIVE WELDING OF A DIFFERENTLY STRUCTURED STEEL-ZIRCONIUM PLATERS

Abstract

In this work the results of trials aimed at selecting optimal settings of the explosion welding process of 10 mm thick zirconium (Zr 700 grade) plates with carbon steel (P265GH grade) are presented. A bimetal Zr-steel and trimetal Zr-Ti-steel and Zr-Zr-steel where: 2 mm Ti and 3 mm Zr were used as a technological intermediate layer facilitating the bonding. The research was carried out for as-bonded joints, i.e. immediately following explosion welding. Structural analyses in leyers near the interface were focused on the characteristic of the joint interface. Mechanical properties of the obtained clads were measured with shearing, peel and lateral bending tests. Systematic measurements of microhardness distribution enabled analyzing the strain-hardening of the material resulting from explosion welding both at the bond interface zone and throughout the whole section of the clad. It was established that during explosion welding with 10 mm Zr 700 the application of the 2 mm or 3 mm thick interlayers of Zr70 or Ti grade 1, respectively, allows obtaining a joint with good mechanical properties and optimal characteristic of the interface.