FABRICATION OF BIMETALLIC RODS BY EXPLOSIVE CLADDING AND WARM EXTRUSION

The fabrication of bimetallic aluminium sheathed/copper axisymmetric r ods by explosive cladding and subsequent warm extrusion is reported. T he effect of the cladding and the extrusion parameters on the macro- a nd the microscopic features and the soundness of the product at the va rious stages of the fabrication are indicated using microhardness test ing and optical metallography. By employing warm extrusion as a post-w elding forming technique, instead of the cold extrusion, the soundness of the components is improved due to advantageous plastic flow of the extruded composite rod at elevated temperatures and the minimization of the characteristic extrusion defects. A theoretical analysis pertai ning to the extrusion of axisymmetric bimetallic rods is proposed, (C) 1998 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.