Ideal: A promising diamond-silicon carbide composite for enhanced ceramic armor

Abstract

Comparative tests were conducted to assess the protective properties of a promising new ceramic material called “Ideal,” which is based on diamond particles. The tests involved a well-known ceramic material, corundum, for comparison. The material “Ideal” is a composite of diamond and silicon carbide, created through reaction-diffusion transformations. It has been observed that regular crystals of silicon carbide, which are genetically linked to the diamond lattice, grow at the interface. Additionally, both large and small diamond particles exhibit a tendency to form a dense hexagonal arrangement within the SiC matrix, with a coordination number of 6. The inclusion of small particles further enhances the space-filling factor, contributing to the superior mechanical properties of the composites. Experimental evaluations of ceramic structures made from the “Ideal” composite material have demonstrated its outstanding protective capabilities, surpassing all existing armor materials. Remarkably, it achieves these superior properties at a considerably lower areal density.