explosive forming

explosive forming [ik′splō·siv ′fȯr·miŋ]

(metallurgy)

Shaping metal parts in dies by using an explosive charge to generate forming pressure.

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Explosive forming

The shaping or modifying of metals by means of explosions. The explosives may be of either the detonating or deflagrating type. Explosive gas mixtures or stored gas at high pressure may also provide the motive power.

Cold welds can be made between dissimilar metals by driving the two parts together under explosive impact. In other applications of explosive-forming methods, powders are pressed into solid billets. In a different application, high explosives are used to cut large blocks of metal and even to split thin sheets into two layers of exactly one-half the original thickness. Explosives can also be employed to extrude metal shapes and to punch hard metals with the aid of dies. Shapes produced explosively are very exact and free from the fine cracks that sometimes result when pressure is applied slowly. See Metal forming