Introduction

With the rapid development of technology and the continuous emergence of new industries and new technologies, the requirements for material performance are becoming increasingly stringent. In many cases, single materials can no longer meet the needs for a special performance, thus new composite materials have become an important development direction in the field of materials science [1, 2]. Layered metal composite plates are a type of composite material formed by firmly metallurgically bonding two or more metal plates with different properties at the interface through special processing techniques. Compared to single-metal materials, layered metal composites combine the advantages of multiple metal components, achieving physical, chemical, and mechanical properties that single-layer materials cannot simultaneously offer, including high strength, wear resistance, corrosion resistance, high electrical conductivity, and thermal conductivity. Consequently, metal composite plates are increasingly used in fields such as aerospace, machinery, shipbuilding, marine platforms, nuclear power plants, and electricity. Additionally, metal composite plates can significantly save rare and precious metal materials, thereby greatly reducing costs. Taking the most commonly used stainless steel/carbon steel composite plate as an example, compared to pure stainless steel, the composite plate can save 70–80% of expensive chromium and nickel alloys, reducing costs by 40–50% and offering substantial economic value. As energy consumption continues to increase and environmental burdens grow, developing low-energy, low-cost, high-quality materials and technologies has become a trend in today’s global materials science and technology development. Layered metal composite plates, with their excellent performance and low cost, are increasingly attracting the attention of researchers worldwide.