Thin aluminium plate was welded onto a zirconia ceramic by the use of a new
ly developed explosive welding technique. A 0.1 mm-thick aluminium plate wa
s accelerated about 800 m s(-1) by regulated underwater shock wave and coll
ided with a zirconia plate at a certain collision angle under moderate cond
itions for explosive welding. The use of a stainless steel cover plate abov
e an aluminium plate and the use of ceramic block next to the ceramic to be
welded, were effective in eliminating cracks generated in the ceramic. The
use of a ceramic container made from epoxy resin mixed with steel powders
was also useful in crack reducton. No separation at the bonded interface wa
s observed at the fracture surface obtained through a bending test in a sam
ple fabricated under moderate conditions. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science S.A. Al
l rights reserved.