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Characterization of Microstructure, Phase Composition, and Mechanical Behavior of Ballistic Steels
Waseem Khan1, Muhammad Tufail1, Ali Dad Chandio1
1Materials and Surface Engineering Laboratory, Department of Metallurgical Engineering, NED University of Engineering and Technology, Karachi 75270, Pakistan.
Materials (Basel, Switzerland)
|March 25, 2022
Summary
This study investigated ballistic steels, comparing thin (LT) and thick (HT) samples. Thicker steels exhibited higher hardness but also a greater corrosion rate in brine solution.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Metallurgical Engineering
- Corrosion Science
Background:
- Advanced steels are crucial for armored vehicle protection, offering high ballistic performance and cost-effectiveness.
- Weight remains a significant challenge in retrofitting armored vehicles, driving research into lighter materials and surface treatments.
- Understanding the mechanical and corrosion behavior of existing ballistic steels is vital for material selection and development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the microstructural, mechanical, and corrosion properties of state-of-the-art ballistic steels.
- To compare the characteristics of low-thickness (LT) and high-thickness (HT) ballistic steel samples.
- To evaluate the impact of steel thickness on material response under various stimuli, including corrosion.
Main Methods:
- Characterization of LT (6.7-7.0 mm) and HT (13.0-15.0 mm) ballistic steel samples.
- Utilized tensile, Charpy impact, micro-Vickers hardness, nanoindentation, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) tests.
- Conducted corrosion tests in a brine solution to assess material degradation.
Main Results:
- Microstructural analysis revealed ε-carbide precipitates in LT samples and both ε-carbides and Mo2C (molybdenum carbides) in HT samples; both were tempered martensite with lath morphology.
- HT samples displayed higher hardness, lower elastic modulus, and reduced stiffness compared to LT samples.
- Corrosion tests indicated a significantly higher corrosion rate in HT samples than in LT samples when exposed to brine solution.
Conclusions:
- Steel thickness influences microstructural composition, mechanical properties (hardness, modulus, stiffness), and corrosion resistance.
- While thicker ballistic steels offer enhanced hardness, their increased susceptibility to corrosion in saline environments requires consideration.
- Findings provide critical data for optimizing ballistic steel selection and surface engineering strategies for armored vehicle applications.
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