Sintered silicon carbide ceramics and silicon carbide ceramic bulletproof product series

Sintered SiC Ceramics: Advantages of SiC Ceramic Ballistic Products

Silicon carbide ceramic bulletproof products are becoming more and more popular in the field of personal and military protection due to their excellent performance and performance. These ceramics have a SiC content ≥99% and a hardness (HV0.5) ≥2600, making them the material of choice for ballistic applications such as bulletproof vests and protective gear for tanks and armored vehicles.

The main product of this series is silicon carbide ceramic bulletproof sheet. Its low density and light weight make it very suitable for individual soldiers’ bulletproof equipment, especially as the inner lining of bulletproof vests. Furthermore, it offers significant advantages in terms of durability, strength and thermal stability.

Silicon carbide (SiC) ceramics have two crystal structures, cubic β-SiC and hexagonal α-SiC. These ceramics have strong covalent bonds, better mechanical properties, oxidation resistance, wear resistance and a lower coefficient of friction than other ceramics such as alumina and boron carbide. Their high thermal conductivity, small coefficient of thermal expansion, and excellent resistance to thermal shock and chemical corrosion further facilitate their wide-ranging applications.

The bulletproof principle of silicon carbide ceramics lies in its ability to dissipate and absorb bullet energy. While traditional engineering materials absorb energy through plastic deformation, ceramic materials, including silicon carbide, do so through microfractures.

The energy absorption process of silicon carbide bulletproof ceramics can be divided into three stages. During the initial impact phase, the bullet hits the ceramic surface, dulling the bullet and crushing the ceramic surface, creating small, hard fragmented areas. During the erosion phase, the blunt bullet continues to erode the debris area, forming a continuous layer of ceramic debris. Finally, during the deformation, crack and fracture phases, the ceramic is subjected to tensile stresses, leading to its eventual rupture. The remaining energy is then dissipated by deformation of the backplate material.

These excellent properties and the three-stage energy absorption process enable silicon carbide ceramic ballistic products to efficiently neutralize the impact of bullets and make them harmless. The bulletproof rating reaches American standard level 4, which provides maximum protection and is the first choice of military experts in the world.

To sum up, sintered silicon carbide ceramics and silicon carbide ceramic bulletproof product series have unique advantages in terms of mechanical properties, thermal stability, and bulletproof efficiency. With their superior properties, these ceramics are widely used as lining materials for bulletproof vests and protective devices for tanks and armored vehicles. Their low density and light weight make them ideal for personal ballistic protection. As technology continues to advance, we can expect further developments and applications of these remarkable ceramics in personal and military protection.