Ceramic Shielding With Controlled Pore Sizes for Multi-Hit Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing armor materials face challenges in achieving high ballistic performance while maintaining a low apparent density, particularly in resisting multiple high-kinetic-energy projectile impacts, and are often hindered by excessive weight, which limits mobility and range of action.
Innovation Solution
A ceramic armor element with controlled porosity and grain size distribution, comprising a sintered material with specific pore volume and diameter ranges, combined with a rear energy dissipation coating, to enhance ballistic resistance and reduce weight.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If metal is used as shielding material, then impact resistance is improved, but mass-to-surface ratio increases excessively
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs porous silicon carbide ceramic material with controlled porosity (0.5-10% total pore volume) to achieve both lightweight construction and high impact resistance. The porous structure reduces material density while the ceramic composition and pore distribution maintain mechanical strength, resolving the contradiction between weight reduction and protective performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses composite ceramic material consisting of silicon carbide grains bonded by a metallic silicon phase. This composite structure combines the high strength-to-weight ratio of SiC with the toughness and ductility of metallic bonding, achieving superior ballistic performance at lower mass density compared to traditional metal armor.
2Weight of moving object
If ceramic material with low porosity is used, then mass-to-surface ratio is reduced, but ballistic performance decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the porosity parameter to a specific range (0.5-10% total pore volume) rather than minimizing it. This controlled porosity, combined with specific pore size distribution (bimodal distribution with peaks at 0.1-15 μm and 40-80 μm), enhances ballistic performance by creating a balance between weight reduction and impact resistance. The optimized parameters allow the material to absorb impact energy while maintaining low density.
3Weight of moving object
If dense SiC sintered material is used, then mass-to-surface ratio is reduced, but toughness resistance remains insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The invention creates a composite structure where silicon carbide grains are bonded by a metallic silicon phase. This composite approach provides both the low density of SiC and the enhanced toughness of the metallic bonding phase, which prevents crack propagation and improves resistance to impact-induced fracturing.
Solution Approach 2:
The controlled porous structure with specific pore size distribution contributes to toughness resistance by providing energy absorption mechanisms during impact. The pores act as stress concentration points that promote crack deflection and branching, preventing straightforward crack propagation through the material while maintaining low density.
4Strength
If armor thickness is increased to resist multiple impacts, then protective performance is improved, but weight increases excessively
Solution Approach 1:
The porous ceramic structure provides high specific strength and energy absorption capacity, allowing thinner armor plates to resist multiple impacts. The porous structure absorbs impact energy through pore collapse and deformation, providing multi-hit protection without requiring excessive thickness that would increase weight.
Solution Approach 2:
The composite SiC-silicon structure combines materials with complementary properties to achieve superior specific strength. The metallic silicon phase provides ductility and energy absorption, while the SiC grains provide hardness and compressive strength, enabling thinner armor plates to withstand multiple projectile impacts.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The ceramic armor achieves improved ballistic performance with a low apparent density, effectively resisting multiple high-kinetic-energy projectile impacts while maintaining a low mass-to-surface ratio, suitable for personal and vehicle protection.
Implementation Method 1
a sintered material consisting of ceramic grains with a Vickers hardness greater than 5 GPa
Implementation Method 2
the total volume of the pores of said material being between 0.5 and 10% of the volume of said material
Implementation Method 3
a rear energy dissipation coating, preferably made of a material of lower hardness than that of the material constituting the ceramic body
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5
AI summary
Elément de blindage antibalistique, comprenant un corps céramique comprenant un materiau fritte constitue de grains céramiques de dureté Vickers superieure à 5 GPa, le volume total des pores dudit materiau étant compris entre 0,5 et 10%, ledit corps céramique étant caractérise en ce que le volume cumule des pores de diamètre compris entre 30 et 100 micromètres représente entre 0,2 et 2,5% du volume dudit materiau, le volume cumule des pores de diametre supérieur à 100 micromètres est inférieur a 0,2% du volume dudit materiau, le reste dudit volume total de pores etant constitue par des pores dont le diamètre est inferieur à 30 micromètres.