Effect of heat treatment on microstructure and mechanical property of Ti–steel explosive-rolling clad plate

The effect of heat treatment on microstructure and mechanical properties of the Ti–steel explosive-rolling clad plate was elaborated by optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), micro-hardness test and shear test. The composites were subjected to heat treatment at temperature of 650–950 °C for 60 min. The results show that the heat treatment process results in a great enhancement of diffusion and microstructural transformation. The shear strength decreases as the treatment temperature increases. Heated at 850 °C or below, their shear strength decreases slowly as a result of the formation of TiC in the diffusion interaction layer; while at the temperature of 850 °C or above, the shear strength decreases obviously, which is the consequence of a large amount of Ti–Fe intermetallics (Fe2Ti/FeTi) along with some TiC distributing continuously at diffusion reaction layer.