Evaluation of Incoherent Interface Strength of Solid-State-Bonded Ti64/Stainless Steel Under Dynamic Impact Loading

Ti/steel interfaces are produced using field-assisted sintering technology, a technique known to bring about full consolidation of materials using much lower sintering temperatures and durations. The interface thickness is verified using the energy-dispersive x-ray analysis exhibiting the extent of diffusion in interface regions. The interface mechanical strength is characterized using dynamic indentation experiments at strain rates approaching 400 s⁻¹. The experiments were conducted on the interfaces within the spatial error tolerance of less than 3 µm. The measurements of dynamic hardness values, strain rates, and plastic-residual depths were correlated to show the relation of interface mechanical strength with the bulk-phase mechanical strength properties of Ti and steel. The Johnson–Cook model is fitted to the obtained interface normal stress–normal strain data based on the nanoimpact experiments. The coefficient of restitution in the mechanical loading and its dependence on the interface dynamic hardness and interface impact velocity validate the experimental results. The results show that interfacial properties are affected by the rate of loading and are largely dependent upon the interface structural inhomogeneity.