Design and net-shape manufacturing of hybrid composites for ballistic protection

在战场上系统地使用个人装甲降低了士兵的死亡率。然而，由于它们的重量和刚性，典型的保护系统只覆盖躯干。因此，虽然胸部受伤的发生率已显著减少，但四肢、头部和颈部受伤的发生率仍然很高。这个项目是研究更轻和更有效的单兵装甲系统的一部分。在CrS-Cr陶瓷（陶瓷-金属）基体中，开发了一种新型的由氧化铝和碳化硼包裹体组成的杂化复合材料。这种轻质材料将使用数值模型和多尺度优化来设计，以抵抗弹道和冲击波威胁。特别是，在设计阶段将寻求弹尖失效、能量耗散和应力波缓解等机制。该杂化复合材料将采用自传播高温合成（SHS）工艺制备。硫粉与铬粉混合，首先熔化，然后在石墨模具中铸造。凝固后，启动无气燃烧波将前驱体混合物转化为极硬且轻的金属陶瓷。在陶瓷基体中加入高纯度的陶瓷夹杂物，进一步提高了陶瓷的弹道性能。SHS用途非常广泛，与现有技术相比具有多种优势：它在物品形状、成分和与其他材料的粘合方面具有高度灵活性，它需要最少的原材料和能源投入，并且产生最少的废物。生产的材料将在准静态、弹道和爆炸载荷条件下进行测试，以验证数值模型并评估优化产品的性能。这种新型装甲系统有可能极大地造福加拿大

The systematic introduction of personal armors in theatres of war has decreased soldier mortality. However, due to their weight and rigidity, typical protection systems only cover the torso. As a result, while the occurrence of chest injuries has been significantly reduced, the rates of injuries to the limbs, head and neck are still high. This project is part of a research effort towards lighter and more effective individual armor systems. A novel hybrid composite material consisting of alumina and boron carbide inclusions in a CrS-Cr cermet (ceramic-metal) matrix will be developed. This lightweight material will be designed using numerical models and multiscale optimization to resist ballistic and blast wave threats. In particular, mechanisms such as projectile tip defeat, energy dissipation and stress wave mitigation will be sought at the design stage. The hybrid composite will be fabricated using a Self-propagating High-temperature Synthesis (SHS) process. Sulfur powder, mixed with chromium powder, is first melted and cast in a graphite mold. After solidification, a gasless combustion wave is initiated to convert the precursor mixture into an extremely hard and light cermet. High-purity ceramic inclusions will be incorporated in the cermet matrix to further enhance the ballistic properties. SHS is extremely versatile and offers multiple advantages over existing techniques: it is highly flexible in terms of the article shape, composition and bonding to other materials, it requires a minimum of raw materials and energy input, and it produces a minimum amount of waste. The materials produced will be tested in quasi-static, ballistic and blast-loading conditions in order to validate the numerical models and to assess the performance of the optimized product. This novel armor system has the potential to greatly benefit Canadian