On the effects of powder morphology on the post-comminution ballistic strength of ceramics

• Published in: International journal of impact engineering Vol. 100; pp. 46 - 55
• Main Authors: Appleby-Thomas, G.J., Wood, D.C., Hameed, A., Painter, J., Fitzmaurice, B.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01-02-2017; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: Aluminum oxide; Armor penetration; Backing; Ballistic penetration; Ballistic resistance; Ballistics; Ceramic powders; Ceramics; Cold pressing; Cold working; Comminuted ceramic; Comminution; Computing time; Microstructure; Morphology; Physical properties; Plate impact; Powder compacts; Comminuted ceramic; Ballistic penetration; Ballistic resistance; Plate impact
• ISSN: 0734-743X; 1879-3509
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijimpeng.2016.10.008

•A series of depth-of-penetration experiments have been conducted using comminuted ceramic analogues comprising cold-pressed ceramic compacts.•Initial compact morphology was found to have a measurable influence on ballistic response.•Under similar pressing pressures (e.g. with similar underlying microstructures), compact thicknesses were shown to have a marked effect on ballistic response.•Findings from ballistic experiments were backed by a discrete series of shock experiments.
In this paper in order to try and elucidate the effects of particle morphology on ballistic response of comminuted systems, a series of experiments were carried out via the use of powder compacts with differing initial particle morphologies. This approach provided a route to readily manufacture comminuted armour analogues with significantly different microstructural compositions. In this study pre-formed ‘fragmented-ceramic’ analogues were cold-pressed using plasma-spray alumina powders with two differing initial morphologies (angular and spherical). These compacts were then impacted using 7.62mm FFV AP (Förenade Fabriksverken Armour Piercing) rounds with the subsequent depth-of-penetration of the impacting projectile into backing Al 6082 blocks used to provide a measure of pressed ceramic ballistic response. When material areal density was accounted for via differing ballistic efficiency calculations a strong indication of particle morphology influence on post-impact ceramic properties was apparent. These results were reinforced by a separate small series of plate-impact experiments, whose results indicated that powder morphology had a strong influence on the nature of compact collapse.