Cladding of titanium and magnesium alloy plates using energy-controlled underwater three layer explosive welding

Abstract

Titanium and magnesium alloy AZ31 plates were explosively welded using the underwater shock wave technique. A thin AZ31 interlayer was utilized as a proposed method to reduce kinetic energy loss and the formation of excessive molten zone at the interface. Through the experiments, the effects of initial inclined angle of the explosive, water distance and annealing of the AZ31 plates were investigated. Different experimental conditions allowed confirmation of the excessive molten zone, moderately welded zone and separation zone. Characterization of the welded interface suggests that bonding quality in the welded region showed planar interface without a molten zone. The effects of various welding parameters are discussed to evaluate moderate conditions of explosive welding. Welding conditions are discussed based on a weldability window estimated by numerically simulated dynamic bending angle at collision and horizontal collision point velocity, which may provide the kinetic energy lost by collision.