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Structure-property characterization of a shock-loaded boron carbide-aluminum cermet

Conference ·
OSTI ID:6506665

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/.

Research Organization:
Los Alamos National Lab., NM (USA)
DOE Contract Number:
W-7405-ENG-36
OSTI ID:
6506665
Report Number(s):
LA-UR-88-4059; CONF-890324-2; ON: DE89005455
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English