Experimental study on hollow structural component by explosive welding

• This paper relates to a study on a thin double-layers hollow structural component by using an explosive welding technology.
• This thin double-layer hollow structural component is an indispensable component required for certain core equipment of thermonuclear experimental reactor.
• An adjusted explosive welding technology for manufacturing an inconel625 hollow structural component was developed which cannot be made by common technology.
• The result shows that a metallurgical bonding was realized by the ribs and slabs of the hollow sheet.
• The shearing strength of bonding interface exceeds that of the parent metal.

A large thin-walled hollow structural component with sealed channels is required for the vacuum chamber of a thermonuclear experimental reactor, with inconel625 as its fabrication material. This hollow structural component is rarely manufactured by normal machining method, and its manufacture is also problematic in the field of explosive welding. With this in mind, we developed an adjusted explosive welding technology which involves a two-step design, setting and annealing technology. The joints were evaluated using optical microscope and scanning electron microscope, and a mechanical experiment was conducted, involving micro-hardness test, cold helium leak test and hydraulic pressure test. The results showed that a metallurgical bonding was realized by the ribs and slabs, and the shearing strength of the bonding interface exceeded that of the parent metal. Hence, the hollow structural component has a good comprehensive mechanical performance and sealing property.