If a vessel requires thick shells and heads due to the design conditions but also needs the corrosion resistance of an expensive nickel alloy, it could be a very expensive piece of equipment. Explosion cladding of the shells and heads might be a more cost-effective solution. Explosion cladding (also known as explosion bonding or welding) is just what it sounds like: a thinner liner plate of a corrosion resistant alloy such as Hastelloy is fused to a thicker backer plate of a less expensive material such as carbon steel. Specialized companies use an explosive process to drive the two plates together with such force that they are permanently bonded, with no voids or laminations. The cladded plate is then flattened and tested. After that, it can be formed, machined, or welded just like a standard plate. Explosion cladding could save you a lot of money on your next equipment purchase!
