Influence of normalizing on microstructure and mechanical properties of Cu/Al explosive welded plate

The copper-T2/aluminum-1060 composite plate is fabricated by explosive welding, using the flying plate of copper-T2 and the base plate of aluminum-1060. After normalizing at 300℃ in intervals, i.e., 12, 24, 36, 48 h for different time, the microstructure, diffusion layers and different mechanical properties of samples were observed and tested. Our results show that the copper-T2/aluminum-1060 alloy composite can be well jointed via explosive welding method, and a typical metal/metal wavy interface, having a period of 200 μm at a relative constant amplitude of about 35 μm, is revealed. In addition, normalizing treatment has a remark contribution to the increase of diffusion layer's thickness. The longer heat treatment time is, the thicker diffusion layers are. With respect to the influence of normalizing on samples' mechanical properties, we find that after a 48-hour heat treatment, the micro-hardness, tensile strength and elongation change from 215 HV, 255.7 MPa, 3.64% to 170 HV, 228.8 MPa, 22.4%, respectively.