Diameter and pattern effects of Al₂O₃ balls on ballistic strength of metal–ceramic composites

Abstract

In composite materials made from metals and ceramics, a metallic substrate material is reinforced with ceramic hardened particles. This combination makes it possible to combine the low weightiness of the metal with the resistance of ceramics. Used metals in those types of composites have greater density than the ceramics, so relatively, metals are heavier than ceramics, but in metal-ceramic composite applications, the metal parts are used in small quantities as in thin slices. These types of composites can combine attractive properties of both a ceramic, such as high temperature resistance and hardness, and those of a metal, such as the ability to undergo plastic deformation.

Metal-ceramic armors are used in the fields where the weight factor is not crucial yet important for mobilization. Metal-ceramic composites show their unique values in armor technologies especially in vehicle protection applications.

Ceramic balls offer advantages such as being lightweight, lower friction resistance, high temperature resistance, higher rigidity, higher hardness, and higher corrosion resistance than metallic composite core, but these properties belong to the material nature. In ballistic applications like high velocity impact situations, spherical shape, theoretically must have an effect on bullet trajectory. Because of the curved surface of a sphere, chances are a projectile hits any spherical surface obliquely. That means the projectile loses some of its kinetic energy by transferring it into the sphere and changing course into another trajectory axis. Shao et al. showed this trajectory deflection effect vividly.