Ceramics & glasses · Non-oxide ceramics
Boron carbide armour ceramic
An extremely hard, low-density ceramic used in personal and vehicle armour where mass efficiency is critical and multi-hit behaviour is managed by composite design.
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01
Overview
- Material class
- Ceramics & glasses
- Category
- Non-oxide ceramics
- Family
- Ballistic Ceramic
- Product forms
- Sintered component, Plate/substrate (grade dependent)
Composition
| Constituent | Min | Max | Typical | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B4C | High-purity ceramic |
02
Properties and conditions
Engineering properties
| Property | Value | Unit | Condition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Density | ~2.5 | g/cm³ | Representative; verify product form and condition |
| Hardness | ~30–38 | GPa | Representative; verify product form and condition |
| Elastic modulus | ~430–470 | GPa | Representative; verify product form and condition |
| Compressive strength | very high | microstructure dependent | |
| Fracture toughness | low to moderate | ceramic | |
| Ballistic role | strike face | system qualification required |
Conditions
Dense technical reference
Purity, porosity, grain size and processing route must be stated.
03
Processing and use
Processing
- Product form, thermal history and manufacturing route materially affect performance.
Applications
- Personal armour plates
- Aircraft armour
- Lightweight vehicle armour
Selection considerations
- Use the current governing standard and supplier certification for design or procurement.
04
Standards and related materials
Standards and designations
| System | Designation | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Legacy MIL specification | Boron carbide armour ceramic | current system specification required |
05
Sources and context
Sources
- NASA materials selection resourcesApplication reference
- U.S. Department of Energy lightweight materials programApplication reference
- U.S. Department of Energy critical materials programStrategic reference
Confirm the applicable specification, product form and condition before using values for design or procurement.
Supply and sustainability
Availability and lead time depend on grade, product form, certification and regional supply chain.
Segregated recovery and closed-loop recycling improve material efficiency where practical.
Strategic context
Critical inputs: B, o, r, o, n
Basis: US DOE Critical Materials List and assessment; USGS critical minerals framework