AWS WHC-3.09:2008

Explosion Welding
Scope : Explosion welding (EXW) is defined as a solid-state process that produces a weld by high-velocity impact of the workpieces as the result of a controlled explosive detonation.1, 2 Although many in the explosion welding industry use the word bonding to describe a welded joint, welding is the preferred term for joining metals using explosives because an atomic bond occurs and is predominant at the interface.3 Explosion welding was developed by the DuPont Chemical Company as an outgrowth of their explosives business. Their research and development group and others worked on explosion metalworking following World War II; this led to the granting of a United States patent for explosion welding to the company in 1964.Although there are many applications for explosion welding, this chapter emphasizes the manufacturing of clad plate, which is the most significant use of the process. An example of an explosion-welded product is shown on the first page of this chapter, a titanium-steelclad pressure vessel 6 meters (20 feet) in diameter and 73 meters (240 feet) long. Explosion-welded joints of dissimilar metals can be applied by a designer anywhere there is a need for a high-quality transition between metals. Typical uses include ultrahigh-vacuum joints between aluminum, copper, and stainless steel; corrosion-resistant claddings on mild steel substrates; and aluminum alloys joined to metals with low-expansion rates, for example, those used in electronic packages. This chapter discusses the fundamentals of explosion welding and describes the equipment and facilities required. Other topics are applications, process variables, material properties, weld quality and testing, economics, and safe practices.