Influence of element distribution on mechanical properties in the bonding zone of explosively welded steels

Abstract A melt pocket in the bonding zone of medium carbon steel bonded on low-carbon steel by explosive welding was investigated by laser assisted atom probe tomography. It was found that the structure is nanocrystalline and (sub-) grain boundaries are enriched with carbon. High hardness values in the melt pocket are attributed to a combination of (sub-) grain size and carbon distribution.