Exothermic welding is applicable to materials other than copper, some of these are listed below.

Common steel
Steel rail
Copper-clad Steel
Columbium
Niobium
Brass
Wrought iron
Stainless steel

Monel
Cast iron
Galvanised and
Bethanized steel
Bronze
Commercially pure iron
Silicon Bronze

Exothermic Welded Connectors

The process of exothermic welding is a method of making electrical connections of copper to copper or copper to steel in which no outside source of heat or power is required.

In this process, granular metallic powder is placed into a high temperature mould and ignited. This ignition process of the particles (exothermic reation) creates high heat in excess of 1400 degrees celsius and produces molten metal slag. The liquid metal copper flows into the weld cavity, filling any available space and completes the weld. The weld should then be allowed to cool and solidify. The mould is removed and made ready for the next weld. This entire process takes only seconds to complete.

Exothermically welded connections produce a permanent joint (or connection) superior in performance to any known mechanical or pressure type surface-to-surface contact connector. By virtue of its molecular bond, an exothermically welded connection will not loosen or increase in resistance over the lifetime of the installation.

As recommended by IEC and IEEE regulations all grounding system connections should be made by exothermic weld. Connections should include, but not be limited to, all cable to cable splices, T's, X's etc..; all cable to ground rods, ground rod splices, cable to steel and cast iron; and cable lug terminations.