Research on explosive welding of aluminum alloy to steel with dovetail grooves

Highlights: • A new method for the explosive welding of aluminum alloy to steel is proposed. • The mechanism of the explosive welding of aluminum alloy to steel with dovetail grooves is explained. • The explosive welding experiment could simplify welding procedure and improve efficiency. • The bonding strength of the clad plate is higher than that of traditional Al/Fe clad plate. - Abstract: In order to explore a new method for the explosive welding of aluminum alloy to steel, a 5083 aluminum alloy plate and a Q345 steel plate with dovetail grooves were respectively employed as the flyer and base plates. The parameters adopted in the explosive welding experiment were close to the lower limit of weldable window of 5083 aluminum alloy to Q345 steel. The bonding properties of 5083/Q345 clad plate were studied through mechanical performance tests and microstructure observations. The results showed that the aluminum alloy and steel plates were welded under the actions of metallurgical bonding and meshing of dovetail grooves. The tensile shear strength of 5083/Q345 clad plate met the requirements of the bonding strength of Al/Fe clad plate. The interfaces between aluminum alloy and the upper and lower surfaces of dovetail grooves were mainly welded through direct bonding, and discontinuous molten zone emerged in the local region; while the interface between aluminum alloy and the inclined surface of dovetail grooves was bonded by continuous molten layer. The brittle intermetallic compounds FeAl₂ and Al₅Fe₂ were generated at the bonding interfaces of 5083/Q345 clad plate. The fracture surface of the tensile specimen exhibited ductile and quasi-cleavage fractures.