Ballistic penetration response of intermetallic matrix composites

Journal Article · Wed Mar 01 00:00:00 EST 1995 · Scripta Metallurgica et Materialia; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0956-716X(95)91605-O· OSTI ID:6870069

Kumar, K S; DiPietro, M S ^[1]

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1. Martin Marietta Labs., Baltimore, MD (United States)

Titanium aluminides and their composites exhibit about the same density as alumina, are tougher and can be produced by conventional casting and powder metallurgy techniques; further, they can be ground and machined more easily than alumina and lend themselves to better microstructural manipulation via heat treatments. Graded composite tiles with a high refractory reinforcement content on the outside and a lower amount on the inside may provide the desired abrasion resistance and toughness to effectively stop an incoming projectile. Likewise, alternating layers of hard and soft materials (e.g. Ti foils and TiAl) suitably graded in their spacings can serve as an effective armor tile. Testing of these materials gave the following conclusions: (1) Titanium aluminide composites are comparable to alumina in ballistic penetration resistance (for BS-41 and M-61 AP threats, and from the work of Chin and Woolsey, to long-rod penetrators) with perhaps improved resistance to shattering. (2) Incorporation of a residual compressive stress in the titanium aluminide composite tile significantly improved its penetration resistance. This concept could be utilized to decrease the required minimum tile thickness and hence, overall system weight.

• OSTI ID: 6870069
• Journal Information: Scripta Metallurgica et Materialia; (United States), Vol. 32:5; ISSN 0956-716X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
45 MILITARY TECHNOLOGY, WEAPONRY, AND NATIONAL DEFENSE
ALUMINIUM BASE ALLOYS
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
ARMOR
MATERIALS
COMPOSITE MATERIALS
MANGANESE ALLOYS
TITANIUM BASE ALLOYS
TITANIUM BORIDES
VANADIUM ALLOYS
CASTING
HOT PRESSING
INTERMETALLIC COMPOUNDS
PROJECTILES
SAMPLE PREPARATION
ALLOYS
ALUMINIUM ALLOYS
BORIDES
BORON COMPOUNDS
FABRICATION
MATERIALS WORKING
PRESSING
TITANIUM ALLOYS
TITANIUM COMPOUNDS
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS
360603* - Materials- Properties
450000 - Military Technology
Weaponry
& National Defense