Method of joining metals

Claim 1

IN A METHOD OF FORMING CLAD PLATE, DEPOSITING A THICK FLUX STRATUM OVER THE UPPER SURFACE OF A STAINLESS STEEL PLATE OF SUBSTANTIAL THICKNESS, PREHEATING THE PLATE TO A TEMPERATURE LESS THAN THE FUSION TEMPERATURE OF THE PLATE, APPLYING AND REACTING AN IRON ALUMINO-THERMIC MIXTURE ABOVE THE UPPER SURFACE OF THE FLUX AND DISTRIBUTED OVER ITS AREA TO INITIALLY PRODUCE SUPERHEATED MOLTEN IRON WHICH IS PURIFIED AS IT SETTLES THROUGH THE FLUX TO BOND TO THE STAINLESS STEEL PLATE IN A SUBSTANTIALLY UNIFORM STRATUM, SAID ALUMINO-THERMIC REACTION BEING SUBSTANTIALLY UNIFORM OVER THE ENTIRE ULTIMATE JUNCTION ZONE OF THE IRON AND STAINLESS STEEL, SECURING THE COMPOSITE IRON AND STAINLESS STELL PLATE TO A SLAB OF PLAIN CARBON STEEL WITH THE IRON STRATUM IN SURFACE CONTACT WITH THE FACE OF THE STAB, HEATING AND COMBINED SLAB AND COMPOSITE PLATE TO A HOT REDUCING TEMPERATURE, AND THEN BONDING THE STEEL SLAB TO THE COMPOSITE PLATE BY THE APPLICATION OF PRESSURE.