AbstractThe successful production of wide bimetallic sheets and strips by cold roll cladding depends on the technical solution of reduction of rolling load while still guaranteeing good bond quality. In the present paper, systematic experimental data on the cold roll cladding of aluminium–stainless steel, copper–stainless steel, and mild steel–stainless steel are correlated and the basic mechanism is discussed, aided by a scanning electron microscopy study of the separated interface. The effects of conventional rolling and cross-shear rolling (i.e. between rolls of differing peripheral speeds) on roll force and bonding strength are critically compared. It is found that use of the cross-shear cold rolling technique results in a significant reduction in rolling load for equal primary bonding strength and that the incorporation of an optimum final heat treatment considerably decreases the requirement on rolling.MST/971