NEW TRENDS IN CERAMIC PROCESSING FOR ARMOR APPLICATIONS

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Egyptian Armed Forces.

2 Ceramics Dept., National Research Center (NRC).

Abstract

Abstract: Advanced technology efforts towards the development and processing of light weight armor material fitted for personnel protection lead to toughned ceramic materials. Zirconia Toughened Alumina (ZTA) (Al2O3 5 % wt. Y-PSZ reinforced with 10 % wt. of SiC particulates) ceramic matrix composite has been characterized with respect to its densification, room temperature mechanical properties, phase composition and microstructure. It was found that the composite could be densified at a temperature as low as 1575 oC by liquid phase sintering. A bending strength of 120 MPa was obtained for 75 % wt. Al2O3 , 10 % wt. ZrO2, 10 % wt. SiC, 5% wt. Y2O3 and 1% add on weight MgO composite. Lower sintering temperature was beneficial to the retention of tetragonal ZrO2 phase at room temperature. The results indicate that liquid phase sintering has a potential advantage in the fabrication cost and room temperature mechanical properties. A complete protection against 7.62x39 AP (armor piercing projectile) with muzule velocity 740 m/sec was achieved using the above composite with area density 48 kg/m2, this area density enable this composite to replace armored steel in bothe personnel and light armored vehicles.

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