Microstructural and mechanical properties of Cu–Ti plates bonded through explosive welding process

In this study, Ti6Al4V alloy plates and commercial copper plates were bonded through explosive welding process. Different amounts of explosive material were used to investigate its influence on the bonding interface. Elbar-5 powders were used as explosive material and the bonding process was carried out through oblique geometry method. Microstructures of the bonded sections were examined and then tensile-shearing tests and hardness measurements were carried out on the bonded specimens. Tensile-shearing tests results showed that shear and fracture took place in the copper plates not in the joining interface. The highest hardness value was measured from the zone near the joining interface. Microstructural examination showed that with increasing explosive material amount the length and amplitude of the waviness in the interface were increased. SEM studies showed that no traces of intermetalics were observed in the interface.