Ceramic components, ceramic component systems, and ceramic armour systems

• US 20050235818A1
• Filed: 02/28/2005
• Published: 10/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Np Aerospace Limited (Morgan Advanced Materials PLC)
• Original Assignee: Aceram Materials and Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Lucuta, Vlad, Lucuta, Petru Grigorie, Pageau, Gilles
• Granted Patent: US 7,562,612 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 89/36.20
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 5/0414 Layered armour containing ceramic material
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 5/0428 Ceramic layers in combination with additional layers made of fibres, fabrics or plastics
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 428/911 Penetration resistant layer

Abstract

Several ceramic armour systems are provided herein. One such system is a ceramic armour system for personnel. Such system includes an integral ceramic plate, or a plurality of interconnected ceramic components providing an integral plate. The ceramic has a deflecting front surface or a flat front surface, and a rear surface. A front spall layer is bonded to the front surface of the ceramic plate. A shock-absorbing layer is bonded to the rear surface of ceramic plate. A backing is bonded to the exposed face of the shock-absorbing layer. A second such system is a ceramic armour system for vehicles. Such system also includes an integral ceramic plate, or a plurality of interconnected ceramic components providing an integral plate. The ceramic plate has a deflecting front surface or a flat front surface, and a rear surface. A front spall layer is bonded to the front surface of the ceramic plate. A shock-absorbing layer is bonded to the rear surface of the ceramic plate. The assembly of the front spall layer, the ceramic plate, and the shock-absorbing layer is bolted to the hull of a vehicle, preferably with an air gap, or alternatively without an air gap.

Claims

1. An amour plate for use in personal vehicular and structural armour systems, comprising:

i) a central layer of ceramic material of a thickness selected to impart a high impact strength thereto, said central layer having an inner surface and an outer surface;

ii) a first thin layer of high shear strength polymer adhesively affixed to the inner surface of said central layer;

iii) a second thin layer of high shear strength polymer adhesively affixed to the outer surface of said central layer;

wherein said first and second layers of polymer are thick enough to increase the flexural strength of said central layer, and localize shattering of said central layer after the impact of high speed projectiles on said plate.

2. The armour plate of claim 1 wherein said first and second layers of polymer are in the range of 0.007 to 0.030 inches.

3. The armour plate of claim 1 wherein the polymer is adhesively fixed through a polyurethane film adhesive.

4. The armour plate of claim 3 wherein the polyurethane film adhesive has a thickness of between 0.015 inches and 0.025 inches.

5. The armour plate of claim 1 wherein the first and second thin layer of high shear strength polymer are comprised of polycarbonate.

6. The armour plate of claim 1 wherein the second thin layer is adapted to follow a contour of said outer surface of said central layer.

7. The armour system of claim 1 wherein said central layer includes nodes on the outer surface of said central layer.

8. The armour plate of claim 7 wherein the second thin layer is adapted to follow contours of the nodes and to fit between the nodes of said central layer.