Explosion-Bonded Titanium Clad Tubesheets: What EPC Buyers Should Specify

In EPC projects a tubesheet is not just a component. It is a critical pressure part where metallurgy, bond integrity, machining accuracy, inspection discipline and documentation quality all affect plant reliability and long-term risk.

Why explosion-bonded clad tubesheets

Explosion bonding joins a corrosion-resistant layer to a structural base without melting, so there is no fusion dilution at the bond. It remains the preferred route where corrosion resistance has to be combined with strength, typically under high pressure with corrosive media and cyclic loads. Uses include shell and tube heat exchangers, condensers, reboilers, evaporators, boilers, FPSO modules, chemical reactors and desalination units.

A delivered scope

Base material: stainless steel 316
Cladding: titanium SB-265 Grade 2
Bonding: explosion bonding
Product form: fully drilled and machined tubesheets, around 2,000 mm OD
Post-machining flatness: 0.2 mm per metre or better

Supply followed approved drawings, technical delivery conditions and the EPC's project requirements.

Standards to reference

Materials and cladding: ASTM B898 for titanium and other reactive-metal clad plate, ASTM A240 for the stainless base, ASTM B265 / ASME SB-265 for titanium, ASME Section II.
Inspection: ultrasonic examination of the bond as required by ASTM B898 and the project specification, with procedures to ASME Section V and personnel qualified to ISO 9712.
Design and fabrication: ASME Section VIII Division 1 or 2, TEMA, PED 2014/68/EU where applicable, and NACE MR0175/ISO 15156 where the service requires it.
Documentation: EN 10204 3.1 certificates and client-approved QAP, ITP and manufacturing data record.

Quality controls that matter

100 percent ultrasonic scanning of the clad interface
Bond strength verified by the shear test in ASTM B898
Mechanical and chemical testing through approved laboratories
Third-party inspection and FAT coordination
Full traceability from raw material to shipment

The same supply base covers explosion-bonded clad plate for pressure vessels, titanium and nickel-alloy transition joints, channel covers, heads and exchanger internals.

Meritus Technology Shanghai
Email: sales@meritustech.com
Phone / WhatsApp: +86 134 8206 1802
www.meritustech.com