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The magnetic pulse welding is a rapid process (takes place within few micro seconds) that joins both homogeneous and heterogeneous materials in the solid state. The process involves applying variable high current on an inductor to generate Lorentz forces on to the conductive primary part (flyer). To realize the weld it is necessary to accelerate the flyer to impact on to the secondary stationary part (base material) at a very high velocity attained over the distance, called air gap, between the parts. It is typically possible to perform welding of tubes and sheets provided there is an optimized air gap between the parts to be welded. As part of our work we have developed an innovative approach (Magnetic Pulse Spot Welding-MPSW) that eliminates the delicate task of maintaining the aforementioned air gap between the plates. The proposed method opens better viable perspectives for heterogeneous assembly of automotive structures or connecting batteries in a quasi-cold state. The developed approach has been validated on the heterogeneous assembly Al/Fe by tensile tests (quasi-static and dynamic) that attested the quality of welds.

The innovation of advanced materials and their application to engineering structures can be related to their ease of fabricating defect-free parts. The identification of various energy sources has resulted in various new processing techniques in manufacturing and electromagnetic energy is one which offers promising qualities for high-velocity forming, welding, and compaction of metals. Bimetallic joint designs were proposed in automobiles to reduce the weight and to take advantage of properties of different metals in the same construction. Joining by fusion is impossible in certain cases due to huge differences in melting point, thermal conductivity, volumetric specific heat, and coefficient of thermal expansion. In the present study, magnetic-pulse welding of a Cu/Al joint and an ODS alloy is investigated. The formation of intermetallic phases and interface morphology is presented along with a quantitative analysis for temperature in the Al/Cu joint. Also, initial investigations on the application of electromagnetic energy for compaction of aluminum powders are reported.

The effects of post-weld heat treatment on 3.05-mm thick Ti-6Al-4V alloy were investigated using a 4 kW Nd:YAG laser. Two main defects, underfill and porosity, were observed. The use of filler wire reduced underfill defects but slightly increased porosity. No cracks were detected. The as-welded and stress-relief annealed welds had very similar microstructures, hardness, and tensile properties. However, the post-weld solution heat treatment and aging transformed the martensite in the fusion zone into a coarse interlamellar α-β structure, causing a decrease in ductility but a more homogeneous distribution in the hardness of the welds.

Laser-roll bonding and magnetic pulse welding are two relatively new processes that greatly minimize problems of metallurgical incompatibilities between dissimilar metals and alloys. These two processes, though technologically apart and invented for components with distinct geometries, utilize to various extents high pressures to facilitate rapid and localized interfacial heating and create reliable joints. In this paper, relations between process parameters, microstructures, and properties are discussed for aluminum-to-steel joints made by laser-roll bonding and magnetic pulse welding.

Forming of metallic parts by the application of high intensity transitory magnetic pulses or shock waves is a challenge task from industrial perspectives as this offers extended scope of forming highly precise parts that result from material behavior at high deformation rates. Electromagnetic forming requires that the part must be intrinsically very conducting. The electrohydraulic forming is exempt from this material constraint as the deformation is generated by a shock wave in a fluid through electric discharge in between the electrodes. The application of a static pressure during forming is used to reduce the discharge energy for a given deformation. Work has been conducted to form different parts through these two techniques involving aluminum, copper and steels. The paper presents the technical obstacles still facing the electromagnetic techniques and gives examples of formed parts and joints in relation with microstructures.

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