What are the characteristics of boron carbide ceramics?
The high melting point, high hardness and low density of boron carbide ceramics make it an ideal substitute for ballistic material applications. After the high-strength and high-hard ceramic is ejected, it will break and cause the ceramic to break. The entire process will consume most of the energy of the projectile and form an “inverted pyramid” type destruction cone at the impact point. This is also the typical damaged morphology of ceramics after being hit by bullets.
In order to improve the resistance of ceramics to multiple impacts, it is often necessary to cover the ceramic panels with high-strength fiber fabrics to prevent the expansion of cracks caused by impact. The combination of high-hardness ceramics and rigid backing forms the basic structure of modern ceramic composite armor.
When the powerful powder shock wave propagates to the interface between the ceramic and the polymer adhesive layer, the shock wave produces a strong stretching effect, destroying the ceramic layer, and at the same time, a strong shearing effect destroys the polymer adhesive layer. Under the action of stretching and shearing, the ceramic layer is separated from the lining layer. At the same time, the warhead and powder fragments are crushed under pressure, forming a cone-shaped fragmentation zone. Due to the high rigidity of ceramics, the impact energy waves of warheads and powder fragments will be redistributed to a larger protective area; thereby effectively stopping warheads and fragments and protecting important parts of the user.
At present, ceramics are widely used both in the military and in civilian technology.