Characterizations of shock-loaded aluminum-infiltrated boron carbide cermets.

摘要

Shock-recovery experiments were performed on aluminum-infiltrated B(sub 4)C cermets as a function of shock pressure and composition. The effect of strain rate under uniaxial stress loading was also studied. Compressive strength was determined to be insensitive to strain rate between 10(sup (minus)3) and 10(sup 3) s(sup (minus)1). TEM examination revealed dislocation debris and twins in a few B(sub 4)C grains aftershock-loading above an upper bound HEL estimate. Below this shock pressure the B(sub 4)C substructure responded elastically. Elastic moduli and strengths were highly dependent on the fraction of B(sub 4)C in the cermets. However, high yield and failure strains and limited fragmentation after shock loading attest that the aluminum phase contributes significantly to the strength and integrity. 4 refs., 3 figs.