Lateral Confinement and Ballistic Performance of TiC-TiB2 Composites

Abstract

Based on using combustion synthesis under high gravity to prepare TiC-TiB2 composite, the ceramic armour targets were achieved by the heat-shrunk lateral, cover and back confinements of steel sleeves and plates. Ballistic testing showed that under the impact of long-rod tungsten alloy projectile, the low-carbon-steel sleeve failed to laterally confine the ceramic due to its inadequate residual strength, resulting in poor ballistic performance of the ceramic, whereas the medium-carbon-steel sleeve had a sufficient residual strength to support lateral confinement of the ceramic as the long-rod tungsten alloy projectile makes room in the ceramic for its penetration, the confined ceramic could present its real ballistic performance, and the results of ballistic testing promised lateral confinement and cover confinement of high-strength metal would be beneficial to the improvement in ballistic performance of ceramic armour.