Properties of aluminium-steel plates explosively welded using Amonex

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the possibility to use the industrial explosive Amonex, which belongs to a group of low-to-middle detonation velocity explosives, for welding of metallic materials. It consists of ammonium nitrate and TNT as energetic components and other inert ingredients and has a powdery consistency, easily applicable in a desirable layer over the metal plates to be welded. Within this research, Amonex was applied to weld plates of aluminium Al 2024 and steel 1.0216 (according to EN 10027-2). The procedure of welding was carried out in the configuration of parallel plates, and afterwards the welded joint was examined. Ultrasonic method and infrared imaging were used as non-destructive techniques, and then the samples were cut from the welded plate using water-jet, in order to perform microscopic analyses of the cross-section in the joint area. It was observed that a good-quality welded joint was obtained, and that the selected explosive may find further application in this area. However, certain nonwelded area was observed, encouraging future modification of the welding procedure set-up.

Cilj ove studije je ispitivanje mogućnosti upotrebe industrijskog eksploziva Amonex, koji pripada grupi eksploziva male-do-srednje brzine detonacije, za zavarivanje metalnih materijala. Ovaj eksploziv se sastoji od amonijum nitrata i TNT-a kao energetskih komponenti i drugih inertnih sastojaka, ima praškastu strukturu i lako se nanosi u željenom sloju preko metalnih ploča koje se zavaruju. U okviru ovog istraživanja, Amonex je primenjen na zavarenim pločama aluminijuma Al 2024 i čelika 1.0216 (oznake prema EN 10027-2). Postupak zavarivanja izveden je na paralelno postavljenim pločama, nakon čega je izvršen pregled zavarenog spoja. Kao metode IBR korišćene su ultrazvučna metoda i termovizijsko ispitivanje. Primenom vodenog mlaza iz zavarene ploče su isečeni uzorci u cilju ispitivanja mikrostrukture poprečnog preseka zavarenog spoja. Uočeno je da je dobijen kvalitetan zavareni spoj, te da odabrani eksploziv može naći dalju primenu u ovoj oblasti. Međutim, takođe su uočene i određene površine nezavarenog područja, što je nametnulo potrebu za izmenama postavke ovog postupka zavarivanja.