Is Boron Carbide the Key to Shattering Bullets in Armor Design?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the potential use of boron carbide in armor design, specifically its ability to shatter bullets upon impact. Participants explore the material's properties, historical context, and possible applications in modern armor systems, including considerations of cost and effectiveness.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Historical

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants hypothesize that the hardness of boron carbide compared to copper may contribute to bullet shattering upon impact.
  • There are questions regarding the feasibility of incorporating boron carbide into conventional armor designs, with concerns about its cost relative to fabrication expenses.
  • One participant notes that boron carbide body armor has been in use for decades, referencing historical manufacturing processes.
  • Another participant raises a concern that boron carbide may only be effective for a single impact, as subsequent hits could lead to material fracture.
  • Some participants discuss the potential for laminating boron fiber similarly to other materials like carbon or aramid fibers, while others express skepticism about the effectiveness of boron carbide in such applications.
  • There is a suggestion that carbon fiber could be impregnated with boron carbide, although the outcomes of this approach are uncertain.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a mix of hypotheses and concerns regarding the use of boron carbide in armor design, with no clear consensus on its viability or effectiveness. Multiple competing views remain on its application and performance characteristics.

Contextual Notes

Participants highlight limitations regarding the material's performance under repeated impacts and the economic considerations of using boron carbide in armor systems. The discussion also reflects a dependence on historical practices and the evolving nature of material science.

chemisthypnos
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Does anyone know how this works? I hypothesize that the reason that the bullet shatters is that boron carbide is much harder than the copper of the bullet. Does anyone think that this may be made into a conventional armor design as some people are saying or is boron carbide too expensive for use in this application?

Link: http://www.slate.com/articles/video...rmor_can_shatter_bullet_on_contact_video.html
 
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chemisthypnos said:
Does anyone know how this works? I hypothesize that the reason that the bullet shatters is that boron carbide is much harder than the copper of the bullet. Does anyone think that this may be made into a conventional armor design as some people are saying or is boron carbide too expensive for use in this application?
The cost of the components could be utterly trivial compared to the cost of the fabrication of the composite. I have no idea if that's the case but my point is that you are not looking at the big picture.
 
Boron carbide body armor has been around for decades. Carborundum made it in their Niagara Falls plant when i visited there in the 1960's.
Back then they blew it into fiber with a steam jet then made it into cloth using secondhand textile manufacturing equipment.

The foam is new to me but it seems a logical progression.

See what these folks have to say ?
http://technical-ceramics.3mdeutschland.de/en/products/3m-ballistic-ceramics.html
 
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Fascinating. I think that I may have found why it may not be used in a number of applications. It seems to be good for only the first hit, but subsequent hits will cause the material to fracture. https://www.arl.army.mil/www/default.cfm?article=3166
 
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I think you can laminate up Boron fibre much the same as Carbon, Aramid or glass fibre.
 
CWatters said:
Boron fibre
You can certainly do this with boron nitride. Boron carbide seems less likely, but you could probably impregnate carbon fiber with boron carbide (whether that would get you the result you want is a different story).