Original Article

Fabrication of titanium–steel joints with a copper powder interlayer by electro-assisted hot pressing

¹ State Key Laboratory of Advanced Metallurgy, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, 100083, PR China
² Iron and Steel Research Institutes of Ansteel Group Corperation, Anshan 114009, PR China

^* e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Received: 18 October 2025
Accepted: 15 February 2026

Abstract

In this study, the electro-assisted hot pressing technique was utilized to join low-alloy steel and commercially pure titanium by employing copper powder as an interlayer under an axial load of 20 MPa within a temperature range of 550 °C to 750 °C. The growth mechanism of intermetallic phases at the titanium/copper interface was investigated using scanning and transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and mechanical testing. The correlation between the evolution of Cu–Ti compounds and copper content was clarified through thermodynamic analysis. The results indicate that under rapid heating conditions, the continuity of the copper powder layer was disrupted; however, it formed a mechanically interlocked structure with the titanium substrate. A maximum shear strength of approximately 172.6 MPa was achieved at 750  °C, corresponding to about 72.6% of the shear strength of pure copper.