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The ballistic behavior of four different armor ceramic materials with thicknesses varying from 3 mm to 14 mm has been investigated. These are two types of alumina Al2O3 armor grades and two types of SiC armor grades produced by different armor ceramic producers. The ballistic study has been performed using the standard DoP technique with two types of AP projectiles. The microstructure and the mechanical properties of the armor ceramics are investigated with SEM (Scanning Electron Microscopy), X-ray microanalysis, impulse excitation methods and Vickers hardness method. The microstructures are characterized by the number and chemical nature of the phases, the grain size, the type of fracture mode identified from SEM investigation of fragments. The measured mechanical properties are hardness, fracture toughness, flexural strength and the speed of sound (transversal and longitudinal). The ballistic tests are performed with two 7.62 mm projectiles AP8 (WC core) at 930 m/s and APM2 (hard steel core) at 800 m/s. The mass efficiency factor has been determined for each of the armor ceramics. The difference in the ballistic performance of the two alumina types is marginal. The two silicon carbide types are indistinguishable from ballistic point of view. The gained knowledge can be used two-fold: first, to understand better the influence of the microstructure on the ballistic performance of armor ceramics and second, as reference material for the development of a new class of armor ceramics.

The ballistic behavior of four different armor ceramic materials with thicknesses varying from 3 mm to 14 mm has been investigated. These are two types of alumina Al2O3 armor grades and two types of SiC armor grades produced by different armor ceramic producers. The ballistic study has been performed using the standard DoP technique with two types of AP projectiles. The microstructure and the mechanical properties of the armor ceramics are investigated with SEM (Scanning Electron Microscopy), X-ray microanalysis, impulse excitation methods and Vickers hardness method. The microstructures are characterized by the number and chemical nature of the phases, the grain size, the type of fracture mode identified from SEM investigation of fragments. The measured mechanical properties are hardness, fracture toughness, flexural strength and the speed of sound (transversal and longitudinal). The ballistic tests are performed with two 7.62 mm projectiles AP8 (WC core) at 930 m/s and APM2 (hard steel core) at 800 m/s. The mass efficiency factor has been determined for each of the armor ceramics. The difference in the ballistic performance of the two alumina types is marginal. The two silicon carbide types are indistinguishable from ballistic point of view. The gained knowledge can be used two-fold: first, to understand better the influence of the microstructure on the ballistic performance of armor ceramics and second, as reference material for the development of a new class of armor ceramics.