Effect of Hardness on Resistance of a Thin-Gauge (.040 Inch to .044 Inch) Hadfield Manganese Steel to Perforation by Fragment-Simulating Projectiles

摘要

In response to a request from the Office, Chief of Ordnance, a program of development of improved body armor components is in progress at this arsenal. As part of this program tests have recently been conducted on samples of Hadfield manganese steel as curently furnished for fabrication into body armor assemblies and as half-hardened and three-quarter hardened. Test samples have been supplied by the Carnegie-Illinois Steel Corporation. The results of these test indicate that hardening to 38/39 Rockwell 'C' produces a Hadfield manganese steel whose resistance to performation by standard caliber .45 ball ammunition (230 grains - steel jacketed) and by fragment-simulating projectiles developed at this arsenal is appreciably inferior to that of the same steel in the annealed condition.