Comparison of microstructure and mechanical properties of titanium/steel composite plates by two manufacturing processes

Two types of titanium/steel composite plates with the same thickness were manufactured by parallel explosive welding and double vertical explosive welding and rolling, respectively. The comparative analysis of microstructure showed that the interface of double vertical explosive welding plate (B plate) tended to be straight while the interface of parallel explosive welding plate (A plate) was wavy bonding. Defects near the interface of B plate were extruded, and the thickness of the diffusion layer of B plate was thicker under the effects of preheating temperature and press-working. Comparative tests of mechanical properties indicated that the tensile shear strength of B plate was lower while its micro-hardness was higher. Specimens of these two types of plates were neither separated nor cracked after bending up to 180° in the three-point bending test. From the microstructural observation of tensile fracture characteristics, A plate had strong toughness fracture while B plate had mainly ductile fracture with cleavage fracture as the supplement. Macroscopically, the tensile strength of the latter was 7.9% less than that of the former. However, both satisfied the Chinese standard of tensile strength.