Elucidation of the joining and interface mechanism of lightweight difficult-to-weld materials joined by explosive impact force

Abstract

Explosive welding can be used to join materials using controlled explosions, creating materials with desirable properties. Assistant Professor Mami Mihara-Narita, Department of Physical Science and Engineering, Nagoya Institute of Technology (NIT), Japan, is exploring the potential of joining technology by explosive welding for the multi-materialism of lightweight materials such as magnesium alloy and aluminium alloy and evaluating their characteristics for practical use. She hopes that her work will contribute to the weight reduction of transportation materials, as well as benefiting transportation equipment and clean energy materials. Mihara-Narita is collaborating closely with Professor Yoshimi Watanabe and Associate Professor Hisashi Sato from NIT, and Dr Yasumasa Chino and Dr Hisashi Mori from the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST and UACJ corporation) in this work. The team is also performing characteristic analysis of explosive welded materials, using a transmission electron microscope to observe interfacial microstructure. The researchers are also evaluating joint strength by shear test, measuring hardness and micro deformation by nanoindentation method and measuring residual stress by X-ray diffraction and neutron diffraction method. In addition they are investigating fatigue strength in order to ensure materials are suitable for use in transportation equipment. Fatigue strength will continue to be a key focus for the researchers moving forward, and they will also be performing data analysis of their data on explosive welding conditions, metallographic structure and various properties of explosive welding clad material.