ABSTRACT
The magnetic pulse welding (MPW) process, a cold solid-state welding process, is fast advancing toward industrial maturity with series production currently operating for a number of automotive projects [1-6]. MPW is accomplished by the magnetically driven, high-velocity, low-angle impact of two metal surfaces. At impact, the surfaces (which always have some level of oxidation) are stripped off and ejected by the closing angle of impact. The surfaces, which are now metallurgically pure, are pressed into intimate contact by the magnetic pressure, allowing valence electron sharing and atomiclevel bonding. This process has been demonstrated in the joining of tubular configurations of a variety of metals and alloys.
