Ballistic Impact Response of Ceramic-faced Aramid Laminated Composites Against 7.62 mm Armour Piercing Projectiles

摘要

Ballistic impact response of ceramic- composite armor, consisting of zirconia toughened alumina (ZTA) ceramic front and aramid laminated composite as backing, against 7.62 mm armor piercing (AP) projectiles has been studied. Two types of backing composite laminates i.e. Twaron-epoxy and Twaron-polypropylene (PP) of 10 mm and 15 mm thickness were used with a ceramic face of 4mm thick ZTA. The ceramic- faced and the stand alone composite laminates were subjected to ballistic impact of steel core 7.62 mm AP projectiles with varying impact velocities and their V_(50) ballistic limit (BL) was determined. A sharp rise in BL was observed due to addition of ceramic front layer as compared to stand alone ones. The impact energy was absorbed during penetration primarily by fracture of ceramic, deformation and fracture of projectile and elastic-plastic deformation of flexible backing composite layer. The breaking of ceramic tiles were only limited to impact area and did not spread to whole surface and projectile shattering above BL and blunting on impact below BL was observed. The ceramic- faced composites showed higher BL with Twaron-PP as backing than Twaron-epoxy laminate of same thickness. This combination of ceramic-composite laminates exhibited better multi-hit resistance capability; ideal for light weight armor.