Various Methods of Processing Silicon-Based Composites for Armor Applications
Abstract
Silicon-boron carbide compositions containing 10 to 20 wt% B4C were fabricated for ballistic evaluation against fragments and small arms projectiles. Fabrication was carried out by a variety of processing techniques to evaluate potential process technology. Among all the techniques investigated, hot pressing and liquid-phase sintering are the most promising with respect to density, microstructure, ease of fabrication, and yield rate. The hot-pressing parameters are established to be 1370 C for Si-10 wt% B4C and 1440 C for Si-20 wt% B4C, while the corresponding processing parameters by the liquid-phase sintering technique are 1410 C and 1520 C. For scale-up operation, the most appropriate composition was found to be Si-20 wt% B4C due to minimum shape changes in the finished specimens. Cold forming of flat plates and complex shapes had been successfully achieved by a slip casting process. Ballistic evaluation indicated that low density Si-20 wt% B4C compositions provide protection against fragments and small arms ball projectiles comparable to that of hot-pressed boron carbide.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 01, 1976
- Accession Number
- ADA033553
Entities
People
- Sunil K. Dutta
Organizations
- United States Army Research Laboratory