The Effect of Atmosphere and Vacuum on Character of Weld Joints Fabricated by Explosion

This paper presents an experiment conducted in Explosia, a.s., Pardubice. A bimetal prepared of AZ 31 Mg alloy - CrNi austenitic steel was tested in various conditions, and consequently its quality was assessed. Focus was particularly on the impact of atmosphere and vacuum on the interface character of the metals (bimetals) prepared by explosion. Parallel placement of the materials being welded was used for welding in both vacuum and air atmosphere. Welding sets were designed and manufactured. The welding parameters and conditions were set up utilising the available computational means, and then verified by simulation in ANSYS engineering-scientific program. Used was Semtex S 35, a loose explosive, as well as Startline 12, an initiation explosive. Bimetal was fabricated in the air atmosphere at the detonation speed 2613 m.s(-1) and in vacuum at the detonation speed 2597 m.s(-1). Quality of bimetals was assessed by optical microscopy, measuring deformations by a 3D scanner, measuring microhardness and also by EDX microanalysis.