Experimental study for manufacturing 316L/CuCrZr hollow structural component

In this study, a multi-step welding method combining explosive welding, laser welding, and Tungsten Inert Gas (TIG) welding was developed to manufacture 316L/CuCrZr hollow structural component. The welding parameters were selected according to theoretical calculations and preliminary tests, and the bonding qualities were evaluated by microstructure analyses and mechanical tests. The results demonstrated that this method was a feasible way to manufacture hollow structural components. All the joints exhibited good quality without micropores and cracks, and the tensile shear testing confirmed that the joining section was not the weakest element of the component. Under bending load, no separation, tearing or fracture was observed at the 316L/CuCrZr interface. The helium leak test results also proved that the welded specimens were sound. In addition, a hardening phenomenon near the 316L/CuCrZr interface was revealed by microhardness tests and fractography studies on tensile specimens.