Structure-Property Characterization of a Shock-Loaded Boron Carbide-Aluminum Cermet

摘要

Shock-recovery experiments were performed on a 65 vol % B sub 4 C-Al cermet as a function of shock pressure. Samples were recovered largely intact due to the use of confinement and ''soft-recovery'' techniques. Post-shock examination by optical and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) showed the B sub 4 C structure to be unchanged up to 5 GPa, while the Al phase exhibited a high density of randomly distributed dislocations. After a shock of 10.6 GPa some of the B sub 4 C grains displayed dislocation debris, but the majority showed no evidence of plastic deformation. Uniaxial compression testing of the unshocked cermet showed a 24% increase in strength from 1.94 GPa to 2.4 GPa with an increase in strain rate from 10/sup /minus/3/ s/sup /minus/1/ to 10 sup 3 s/sup /minus/1/. (ERA citation 14:015260)