Effect of a porous interlayer on the strengthening of low-carbon steel by contact explosion

We have studied the effect on strengthening and microstructural changes from a powder interlayer positioned between an explosive charge and a low-carbon steel surface. It has been established that the use of such interlayers leads to a greater increase in hardness and change in microstructure than comes about through direct contact of the charge with the surface being hardened. The effect increases as the acoustic impedance of the interlayer and the detonation characteristics of the explosive are increased.