Creative explosion

Creative explosion

We usually associate explosion with destruction. However, in this particular instance, explosion energy is used to develop complex bonds. The process has been mastered by Opole-based Explomet.

Traditional bonding methods fail with certain metals and alloys. ‘We have learned how to develop multilayer metallic bonds using the method of simultaneous explosion welding. We bond several layers at one time through explosion. This enables us to connect permanently such materials as alloys of aluminium with copper, titanium alloys with aluminium alloys, and steel with titanium alloys,’ says Aleksander Gałka, the co-owner of the company. Such materials are used to produce chemical devices, welds in metallurgy, as well as they are being applied in the shipbuilding and aerospace industries.

The project enables Explomet to develop a technology ready for production. The project also helped to create a technical facility for macro-scale testing. ‘Almost anything is possible when we work in a laboratory environment using A4 paper sheet size samples, whereas the scaling of technology to its industrial applications is much harder. When the size increases to several square metres, the same materials start to change their behaviour. Since certain issues cannot be calculated in advance; they need to be tested in production,’ adds Zygmunt Szulc, the co-owner of the company.

Since the technology is improving almost every year, the company developed close cooperation with various research and development centres. The company also provides internships and apprenticeships from Opole University of Technology and other Polish higher engineering schools.

Explosive bonding technology
The explosion welding technology has rapidly developed since the middle of the past century. After the mining sector, explosive metal plating uses the largest volumes of explosives designated for civil applications.

Today, over 90 percent of production is exported. ‘Although we are a small company, we are one of five global leaders in explosion welding. This has been possible thanks to EU funding,’ add the owners of the company.

Project: Implementation of industrial research and development in EXPLOMET to develop and implement the multilayer metallic composites using explosive welding technology to manufacture specialist process devices, bonding elements for modern power grid installations and hybrid metal structures
Project cost: approx. PLN 10.97 million, including approx. PLN 6.03 million from the European Regional Development Fund, Opolskie Regional Programme