Interfacial and Mechanical Properties of Cu/Al Composite Plates Manufactured by Rolling and Underwater Explosive Welding

Abstract:

Cu/Al composite plates were fabricated using rolling and underwater explosive welding techniques, separately, to compare their interfacial microstructures and mechanical performance. Interface morphology, grain orientation, grain boundary characteristics, and phase distribution were analyzed through optical microscope, scanning electron microscope, and electron backscattered diffractometer. Mechanical properties were assessed using tensile shear tests, 90° bending tests, and hardness measurements. Vickers hardness and nanoindentation test results further provided information on the hardness distributions. Results indicate that the diffusion layer in rolled Cu/Al composites is relatively fragile, while that produced by underwater explosive welding features a diffusion layer of approximately 18 μm in thickness, which is metallurgically bonded through atomic diffusion. The tensile shear strength of these composites ranges from 64.45 MPa to 70.84 MPa, and in the 90° three-point bending test, the underwater-explosive-welded samples exhibit superior flexural performance. This study elucidates the effects of different manufacturing methods on the interfacial properties and mechanical performance of Cu/Al composites, offering essential insights for the selection of manufacturing methods and applications.