Bond Integrity in Aluminum-Copper Clad Metals

Aluminum clad copper (Al/Cu) or copper-clad aluminum (Cu/Al) composite metals have been widely used for over 40 years. These mature and well tested clad metal systems are used industrially in a variety of applications. The inherent properties and behavior of both copper and aluminum combine to provide unique performance advantages. Copper’s electrical and thermal conductivity along with its solderability make it a critical industrial metal. The characteristics of aluminum also provide above-average thermal and electrical conductivity, low density and a stable oxide layer. A common application in our daily life is cookware where either Cu/Al or Cu/Al/Stainless Steel clad metals are used to make premium pots and pans.