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.