The present paper examines features of interface structure and analyzes possible risk zones for two to a certain degree alternative objects manufactured from composites produced by explosive welding. One of those is a chemical reactor vessel; the other is a petrochemical reactor vessel (a coke drum). The engineering of a chemical reactor vessel is an example of a successful implementation of explosive welding. The analysis of the chemical reactor wall structure containing a coppertantalum welded joint revealed the reasons for its stability that provides reactor's extended service life in a harsh environment. However, a risk zone can emerge due to the quasi-wave nature of the interface. On the contrary, factors that shorten the service life were found for the petrochemical reactor. The contact zone of the plates for the shell of the petrochemical reactor (the coke drum) produced by explosive welding and made of 08Cr13 and 12CrMo steel consists of five layers. The segregation of carbon provokes the eutectoid decomposition that causes formation of colonies of rod-shaped carbides. As a result, two risk zones can be observed: the melted zone and the segregation zone. Using the copper-titanium joints as examples, the effect of intermetallic reactions on the strength of a welded joint was studied. Disordered and unfaceted clusters were observed to turn into intermetallic particles and then into agglomerates. Attention is drawn to the fact that the variety of operating modes and conditions makes the formation of intermetallic compound really hazardous.