Fabrication and performance investigations on explosively welded CuCrZr/316L hollow component for the breeding blanket

Developing hollow components that integrate a large number of complex coolant channels for thermonuclear reactors remains a challenging task, owing to potential technical problems such as dissimilar metal connections, over-aging, and large welding areas (meter-scale). In this paper, CuCrZr/316L hollow components were manufactured using an improved explosive welding technique, where theoretical calculations and composite filling mold were used to achieve ideal welding conditions. Microstructure analysis showed that irregular waves of continuous and complete metallurgical bonding were detected at the bonding interface, and the defects at the corner of the flow channel were controlled at the hundred-micron level. The joint exhibited high shear strength (~ 292 MPa) under the given high-temperature conditions (200 ℃), whose peak strength, stress–distance curve, and failure mode were almost consistent with the experimental results at room temperature (25 ℃). Finally, under all conditions of the helium-leak test, the leak tightness of the CuCrZr/316L hollow component met the standard requirement.