Magnetic pulse welding: Interface of Al/Cu joint and investigation of intermetallic formation effect on the weld features

This paper attempts to highlight emerging issues when joining dissimilar metal pairs by magnetic pulse welding. For this purpose, joint of Al/Cu and Al/Al welded with the same parameters are compared. Al/Cu combination involves a formation of an interfacial intermetallic phase whereas Al/Al joint is bonded by metal continuity at the interface. The intermetallic is found to be amorphous, nanoporous, and damaged by a multi-directional cracks. The formation of such features is respectively explained by a melting confined at the interface followed by high rate cooling, cavitation phenomenon and solidification shrinkage. Mechanical characterizations of the Al/Cu joint show brittle fracture at the interface with fragmentation of the [0] intermetallics (glass type rupture). The intermetallic defects such as pores and cracks strongly reduce the breaking load level when compared to the Al/Al case. On the other hand, the Al/Al joint shows ductile fracture with plastic deformation of the interface.