Thermite is used on railroads, they put a cast around the track, light the thermite and it flows down in, fills the gap, solidifies and they grind it smooth. Really nice because it's portable, no power supply or gases needed.

 

Well, today we blasted the plates! If you happen to be in or near Idaho Springs, CO, that was us making booms. Used 14lbs of ANFO per 12x12 plate. All our different tests bonded successfully, now comes sectioning all the plates. Should be some good waves. Well, to the good part, pics and....a MOVIE!
Copper plate

Box that holds ANFO on plates:

The team, putting the FO and ANFO!

Our best friend, that's no fruit punch, good ol' number 1 diesel

The setup before sand on top for containment


Link to the video of two blasts:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0AUynr1tvWQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lD4mQvM4_NY

 

This process would be similar to a high speed forge welding right?

 

I imagine it's close, this is considered solid state though, no melting, just really high pressures, the metals act like fluids, but don't melt at all.

 

Anfo and copper, sounds more like a cutting shape charge.

 

Just an FYI for those trying to find it in the program guide

Modern Marvels: Welding
Episode Number: 466
Season Num: 13
First Aired: Wednesday May 9, 2007

It was a science first conjured amid the fiery ovens of ancient blacksmiths; today more than 50% of all U.S. products require some form of welding. Whether via electricity, flammable gases, sonic waves, or sometimes just raw explosive power, welding creates powerful bonds between metal unmatched by any other joining process.

 

Were trying to join dissimilar materials, the copper and steel, just two flat plates being slammed into each other. The waves look just like real waves breaking, just little waves of Cu in the steel, I'll get some more of that once we cut and polish.

 

Sweet. Im doing demo shots pretty much every day. Fun stuff.

 

yeah, and I imagine it's a little different having to walk up to UXO