Patent ID: 8393525

Claim:
A method for forming a metallurgical bond between a first metal workpiece and one or more second metal workpieces, comprising: (a) bringing said first metal workpiece and said one or more second metal workpieces into proximity to one another such that a first portion of said first workpiece is in general overlying relationship with a second portion of said one or more second workpieces; (b) providing suitable material between said first portion and said second portion, said material being in the form of particles or foil; and (c) forcing at least a first part of said first workpiece comprising said first portion toward said a part of said one or more second workpiece comprising said second portion by means of any one of a suitable high pressure joining process and a high speed joining process, wherein a magnetic pulse generates a contact front at a velocity sufficient to form a plasma such as to cause the said first metal workpiece and said one or more second metal workpieces to become joined or welded to one another to form a metallurgical bond therebetween.