Investigation of mechanical and ballistic properties of boron carbide and alumina ceramic armor plates

In this study, the most common used materials in the production of the armors, namely boron carbide and alumina ceramic plates, have been planned to be exposed to X ray diffraction (XRD) and X ray fluorescence spectrometry for elemental analysis (XRF) in order to reveal their crystallographic characteristic features, internal (inner) structure, involved phases, chemical compound/composition. In order to specify elemantal composition of the boron carbide and alumina ceramic plates, scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS Analysis), density test, micro hardness test and compression test as well have been planned to be utilised. With this study, reviewing the literature which is relevant for the study, the comparison of mechanical endurance of the plates and the specification of ceramic pores, performing P-BFS ballistic test in conformity with the NIJ-STD 0-101.04 standard in order to display the ballistic effects of the mechanical particularities have been aimed. B4C and Al2O3 samples content show a homogeneous distribution and their density is measured as 2.52 g/cm3 and 3.85 g/cm3, respectively. B4C and Al2O3 exhibit brittle fracture and constitute linear deformation at low stresses. Elastic properties change according to the carbon content in boron carbide structure. B4C and Al2O3 plates have trauma depths of 28.8 mm and 34.4 mm (872 m / sec on boron carbide plate, 884 m / sec, 7.62x63 mm M2 AP bullet on alumina plate and) on ballistic tests. Due to the high hardness of B4C, the expectation that it will exhibit better ballistic properties compared to Al2O3 is not possible because the material is excessively brittle.