Cermet Armor Plate Composite for Weight Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing armor technologies face a challenge in achieving a balance between protective effectiveness, weight, and cost, with materials of higher weight providing better protection but at increased costs, and existing armor plates made of tungsten heavy metal or tungsten carbide requiring significant thickness for adequate protection.
Innovation Solution
Development of armor plates made from hard metal and cermet materials, which include tungsten carbide and other carbides, with binders like cobalt, nickel, and iron, allowing for reduced weight and cost while maintaining high hardness and protective effectiveness, and the use of a multilayer composite structure with a silicone-based adhesive for enhanced durability and ease of replacement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If armor plates are made of tungsten heavy metal or tungsten carbide, then protective effect is improved, but weight increases and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses composite materials consisting of hard metal particles (tungsten carbide, tungsten heavy metal, or mixtures) combined with thermoplastic elastomers. This composite approach allows achieving high protective effect through the hard particles while the elastomer matrix reduces overall weight compared to solid tungsten heavy metal plates.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the material parameters by controlling the particle size distribution (mixing fine and coarse particles), particle concentration (30-80 vol%), and elastomer composition to optimize the balance between protective effect and weight. This allows tailoring the armor plate properties to achieve sufficient protection with reduced weight.
2Reliability
If armor plates are made of tungsten heavy metal or tungsten carbide, then protective effect is improved, but production costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes production costs by controlling material parameters: using 30-80 vol% hard metal particles instead of 100%, mixing particle sizes to reduce total material needed, and selecting thermoplastic elastomers that can be processed by conventional molding methods. This reduces material costs and manufacturing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The use of thermoplastic elastomer matrices allows for easier and cheaper manufacturing compared to solid metal plates. The composite structure can be produced using conventional plastic molding techniques, reducing production costs while maintaining adequate protective effect through the distributed hard particles.
3Reliability
If armor plate thickness is increased, then protective effect is improved, but weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The composite structure with hard metal particles dispersed in an elastomer matrix provides high protective effect in thin plates. The hard particles act as projectile disruptors while the elastomer absorbs energy, achieving effective protection at reduced thickness and weight compared to solid metal plates of equivalent protection level.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by concentrating hard metal particles (which provide protective function) throughout the elastomer matrix. This distributed localization of protective function allows thin plate design where protection is provided locally by particles rather than requiring uniform thick metal sections throughout.
Data Source
AI summary
Armor plate having a thickness of at least 3 mm and an edge length of at least 20 mm, wherein the armor plate consists of a material made largely of a component selected from the group hard metal, cermet and/or combinations thereof. An armor plate composite comprising at least two layers of armor plates and an armor are provided as well.