Study of Impact Characteristics of ZrO2 Ceramic Composite Projectiles on Ceramic Composite Armor

Exploring new armor-piercing materials is crucial for improving the penetrative ability of projectiles. Based on the process of in situ solidification injection molding through ceramic dispersant hydrolytic degradation, a ZrO2 ceramic material suitable for use as the tip of a 12.7 mm kinetic energy (KE) projectile was prepared. The ZrO2 ceramic tip can be matched with the metal core of a conventional projectile to form a ceramic composite projectile, increasing the damage to the Al2O3 ceramic composite armor. Specifically, the ZrO2 ceramic tip can increase the impact load on the Al2O3 ceramic panel, prolonging the pre-damage phase and reducing the stable penetration phase, shortening the mass erosion time of the metal core compared with a 12.7 mm metal KE projectile tip. The ceramic composite projectile with the ZrO2 ceramic tip has a lower critical penetration velocity than a 12.7 mm metal KE projectile for Al2O3 ceramic composite armor. Furthermore, the residual velocity, residual length, and residual mass of the metal core of the ceramic composite projectile that penetrated the Al2O3 ceramic composite armor are greater than those of a 12.7 mm metal KE projectile.