Clad Plate Material Combinations
Shockwave explosion clads more than 250 metal combinations, bonding corrosion-resistant alloys to structural steels with vacuum explosion welding. Below are the clad layers and base materials we process, the codes we test to, and where each combination is typically used.
Clad layers
| Clad material | Typical grades | Typical applications |
|---|---|---|
| Stainless steel | 304L, 316L, 321 and others | Chemical and pharmaceutical vessels, heat exchangers |
| Duplex & super duplex | 2205, 2507 and others | Oil & gas, desalination, seawater service |
| Nickel & nickel alloys | Ni 200/201, Alloy 400, 625, 825, C-276, C-22 | Sour gas, chemical processing, flue-gas desulphurisation |
| Titanium | Grade 1, 2, 7, 11, 12 | Chloride service, PTA plants, desalination, transition joints |
| Zirconium | Zr 702 (LO), Zr 700 | Acetic acid, urea and strong-acid service |
| Tantalum | — | Highly corrosive acid service |
| Copper alloys & copper-nickel | CuNi 90/10, 70/30 | Seawater cooling, condensers, electrical joints |
| Aluminium & aluminium bronze | Al 1050A, Al 5083 and others | Transition joints (Triplate®), shipbuilding |
Base materials
| Base material family | Examples |
|---|---|
| Carbon & pressure-vessel steels | SA516, P265 / P355, HIC-resistant, quenched & tempered |
| Forgings | SA266, SA350 |
| Alloyed steels | SA387 |
| Other bases | Stainless steel, copper, aluminium |
Stainless steel clad plate
Stainless steel clad plate combines a carbon or pressure-vessel steel base with a stainless steel layer on the side that touches the process medium. It gives the corrosion resistance of solid stainless steel for a fraction of the alloy cost, because the base carries the pressure and the stainless layer only needs to be a few millimetres thick.
| Item | Typical choice |
|---|---|
| Clad layer | 304L, 316L, 321, duplex 2205, super duplex 2507 |
| Base material | SA516 Gr. 60/70, P265GH / P355, HIC-resistant steel |
| Specification | ASME SA-264 (stainless-clad plate), EN 13445-2 |
| Typical use | Pressure vessels, columns, heat exchangers, chemical, pharmaceutical and food processing equipment |
Titanium clad plate
Titanium clad plate bonds a titanium layer to a steel base — a combination that cannot be made by fusion welding, because titanium and iron form brittle intermetallics. Explosion welding joins them in the solid state, which is why it is the standard way to make titanium-clad steel for chloride and acid service.
| Item | Typical choice |
|---|---|
| Clad layer | Titanium Grade 1, 2, 7, 11 or 12 |
| Base material | SA516 or other pressure-vessel steel |
| Specification | Typically ASME SB-898 (reactive-metal clad plate) plus the customer specification |
| Typical use | PTA and chlor-alkali plants, seawater heat exchangers and desalination, tube sheets |
| Also used in | Transition joints such as Inox-Triplate® and CryoClad® |
Clad thickness and formats
Clad layers from 2 to 20 mm, multi-layer build-ups possible. Supplied as flat plates, discs, tube sheets and partly-clad components. For maximum sizes see Clad Plates.
Testing and codes
Every production plate carries its own stamped and traced test coupon, tested per ASME SA-263 / SA-264 / SA-265, AD-W8, EN 13445-2 and the client specification:
- 100% automated ultrasonic (phased-array) scan of the full bond area
- Bond shear and through-thickness tensile tests, also after simulated PWHT cycles
- Face, side and 180° bend tests — no delamination allowed
- PMI (XRF) and hardness traverse
- Third-party and class inspections welcome (LR, DNV, ABS and others)
Frequently Asked Questions
Which metals can be explosion clad onto steel?
Stainless steels, duplex and super duplex, nickel and nickel alloys, titanium, zirconium, tantalum, copper alloys and copper-nickel, aluminium and aluminium bronze — on carbon, pressure-vessel, alloyed or stainless steel bases.
Can titanium, zirconium or aluminium be welded to steel?
Not by fusion welding, because they form brittle intermetallics. Explosion welding bonds them in the solid state, so these combinations become possible.
Which codes do Shockwave clad plates meet?
Clad plates are tested per ASME SA-263, SA-264 and SA-265, AD-W8 and EN 13445-2, plus the customer specification.
How is every clad plate tested?
100% automated ultrasonic testing of the full bond area, shear and tensile tests, face, side and 180° bend tests, PMI and hardness — on a traced test coupon from each production plate. Third-party and class inspections are welcome.
Is my combination not listed?
Contact us: Shockwave engineers custom combinations, including multi-layer build-ups.