Microstructure-related properties of explosively welded multi-layer Ti/Al composites after rolling and annealing

Abstract

The processes of rolling and annealing of explosively welded multi-layered plates significantly affect the functional properties of the composite. In current research, fifteen-layered composite plates were fabricated using a single-shot explosive welding technique. The composites were then rolled up to 72% to reduce layer thickness, followed by annealing at 625 °C for varying times up to 100 h. Microstructure evolution and chemical composition changes were investigated using scanning electron microscopy equipped with energy-dispersive spectroscopy. The mechanical properties of the composite were evaluated by tensile testing, while the strengths of individual layers near the interface were evaluated by micro-hardness measurements. After explosive welding, the wavy interfaces were always formed between the top layers of the composite and the wave parameters decreasing as the bottom layers approach. Due to the rolling process, the thickness of Ti and Al layers decreases, and the waviness of top interfaces disappeared. Simultaneously, the necking and fracture of some Ti layers were observed. During annealing, the thickness of layers with chemical composition corresponding to the Al3Ti phase increased with annealing time. A study of growth kinetic shows that growth is controlled by chemical reaction and diffusion. The results of micro-hardness tests showed that after annealing, a fourfold increase of hardness can be observed in the reaction layers in relation to the Ti, while in relation to Al, the increase of hardness is even 15 times greater.