Characteristics of hot rolled stainless steel-clad plate with and without interlayer: a review

The application of stainless steel-clad plates, with or without interlayers, is prevalent in industries such as chemical processing and petroleum due to their enhanced corrosion resistance and cost-effectiveness. This review explores various aspects of hot rolling cladding, rolling temperature, rolling reduction ratio, heat treatment, and mechanical properties including ductility, fracture elongation, yield and ultimate strength, interface characteristics and microstructure. Interlayers significantly enhance the performance and durability of clad plates by improving bonding quality and mechanical properties, acting as diffusion barriers, and evenly distributing stress. Common interlayer materials, including nickel, iron, niobium, molybdenum, copper, titanium, aluminum, vanadium, zirconium, and tantalum each offer specific advantages in enhancing corrosion resistance and mechanical strength. In the rolling process, interlayers play a crucial role in facilitating atomic diffusion and forming strong metallurgical bonds at high temperatures. This review discusses the applications and cost-effectiveness of clad plates, the advantages of interlayers, the role of interlayers in the rolling process, the impact of heat treatment in hot rolling cladding, and the metallurgical bonding mechanism. Overall, interlayers are essential in optimizing the diffusion of alloying elements and the mechanical properties of clad metals, contributing to long-term cost savings and improved product performance.