Clad Metal

Clad metal products are manufactured using a hot bonding process where two or more metals are metallurgically combined to form a single material.  For example, you can combine the positive characteristics of silver alloys, which are highly conductive, bonded to copper which is less expensive.  Ultimately this provides a cost-saving alternative to just using the precious metal.

Clad products offer a cost-effective material that meets our customers specific engineered requirements. Bonding separate metal layers create unique solutions that combine the advantages of the different metals into a custom material system. These customizable characteristics include conductivity, arc erosion resistance, anti welding, rigidity, corrosion resistance, formability, and weldability.

Inlay and overlay clads are a combination of precious and base metals that can be one or more alloys bonded to a substrate. Inlays can be manufactured to be placed on the edges, both sides, or at any point from the edge of the strip.  If more than one inlay is specified, they can be made to be different thicknesses, widths and of different alloys.

Thrulays are a specialized clad product where stripes of precious metal continue throughout the full thickness and parallel bonded to base metals.

Inlay, overlays and thrulay materials can all be used to produce precision stampings.

The Benefits of Clad Metal Products

Clad metals offer the opportunity to combine desirable properties and/or characteristics of individual metals and alloys into a material system that provides improved characteristics over the individual metals:

• Strength
• Electric Properties
• Thermal Properties
• Corrosion Resistance
• Density
• Magnetic Properties
• Wear Resistance
• Formability
• Weldability/Joinability
• Cost
• Corrosion Resistance