In this work, ammonium nitrate with fuel oil (ANFO) was used to study several explosive parameters such as explosive-to-inert material ratio, velocity of detonation (VOD), explosive particle size and density, stand-off distance and angle, and joint surface cleanliness and flatness.  Small protrusions (weld dots) about 3 mm tall were deposited using GMAW onto several steel plates to act as wave deflectors to examine the wave propagation along the interface. Pure copper and A516 G-70 steel were selected as model materials for investigation. The microstructures of the explosive bonds were examined in detail. The amount of pearlite colonies, observed in the form of banding in the base steel plate, was found to decrease as it got closer to the bond interface. In the immediate adjacency of the interface, no pearlite was present. One possible explanation is that the joint heated up with the shock wave and carbides dissolve to form austenite. AC1 and AC3 temperatures were calculated to demonstrate that austenite formation is possible. At rapid cooling, carbide formation was suppressed with some of the austenite transforming to martensite. Stand-off angle affected significantly the heating and cooling of the weld plates. At only 5^o stand-off angle, the bending of the flyer plate with the advance of the wave front at the collision point caused significant deformation and heating of the weld joint. The weld dots disturbed the regular wave propagation causing greater turbulence and modified the periodicity and height of the waves along the interface.
SEM and TEM examination of the bond interface revealed the presence of a porous structure, which is an evidence of solidification. TEM micrographs showed the presence of an undulated feature that reminds of the Wallner lines.