Physics and Technology of Transparent Ceramic Armor: Sintered Al2O3 vs Cubic Materials
Abstract
Sintered sub-micrometer alumina (alpha-Al2O3) is the hardest transparent armor. However, its trigonal structure gives rise to a strong thickness effect that makes thicker components translucent. Cubic ceramics (no birefringence!), on the other hand, are less hard but may exhibit an improved transmission. Known cubic armor ceramics are manufactured in a way resulting in coarse microstructures with low hardness. Therefore, a cubic sub-micrometer spinel was developed here that associates a high hardness > 14 GPa with an in-line transmission approaching the theoretical limit - with the consequence that the thickness effect becomes very small, and transparent components can be manufactured with several mm thickness without loss of transmissivity. Additionally, weight benefits at high protective strength are expected because the hard components can be designed thinner than using known spinel or AlON grades.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 01, 2006
- Accession Number
- ADA469603
Entities
People
- Andreas Krell
- Jens Klimke
- Thomas Hutzler