STRUCTURE FORMATION PROCESSES IN THE PRODUCTION OF A LAMINATED STEEL-COPPER-BRASS COMPOSITE BY EXPLOSION WELDING

Abstract

A layered composite material consisting of 20-grade steel, M1 copper, and L80 brass produced by explosive welding was studied. Under explosive welding conditions, complex mechanochemical transformations occur within the contact region of the multilayer composite material, resulting in the formation of phases that are absent in the equilibrium state of the original constituents. In particular, the emergence of the Cu₅Zn₈ intermetallic phase and metastable γ-iron has been identified. The development of this microstructure is associated with high-rate interdiffusion processes, including the penetration of copper into iron and the migration of zinc from the brass layer into copper. The evolution of these phenomena is governed by the wave-like dynamics of material interaction in the welded interface zone. The microhardness of the layers of the resulting composite material was also studied.