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 |
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.