Study on the Penetration Power of ZrO₂ Toughened Al₂O₃ Ceramic Composite Projectile into Ceramic Composite Armor

This work aims to improve the penetration ability of a 14.5 mm standard armor-piercing projectile into ceramic/armor steel (Al₂O₃/RHA) composite armor. To this end, ZrO₂ toughened Al₂O₃(ZTA) is prepared as the material for bullet tips, utilizing in situ solidification injection molding that is realized via ceramic dispersant hydrolytic degradation. The penetration power of ZTA ceramic composite projectile, compared with standard armor, against 15 mm armor steel (RHA) and 30 mm Al₂O₃/RHA composite armor, is studied by ballistics testing combined with numerical simulation. The Tate theory is optimized and then employed to calculate the penetration depth and bullet core's residual mass when ZTA ceramic composite projectile penetrates into Al₂O₃/RHA composite armor. The results show that when penetrating RHA of 15 mm, the penetration area of ZTA ceramic composite projectile into RHA increases by 27.59% and the exit area by 42.93%. While the standard projectile fails to penetrate the 30 mm Al₂O₃/RHA composite armor, the ZTA ceramic composite armor-piercing projectile succeeds, with the mass loss reduced by 66.67% over the standard one. The ZTA ceramic composite bullet has a better performance than the standard bullet in penetrating RHA and Al₂O₃/RHA composite armors. The test results, simulation, and theoretical analysis are consistent. This study has practical values for engineering applications to design new ceramic composite bullets.