Transparent ceramic composite armor

Abstract

Transparent ceramic armor consisting of a light weight composite formed bytilizing a face plate of transparent aluminum oxide or transparent magnesium oxide with a back-up plate of transparent plastic and the two plates bonded together with a transparent adhesive. This composite on test affords complete ballistic protection against 0.30 AP M2 projectiles at 0° obliquity with a muzzle velocity of 2770 ft. per sec.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. Transparent ceramic armor comprising a light weight composite of transparent material adapted to shatter on impact projectiles with a muzzle velocity of approximately 3000 f.p.s., consisting of a transparent ceramic face plate backed by a transparent plastic plate and bonded thereto with a transparent adhesive so constructed and arranged that the light weight composite affords complete ballistic protection against projectiles with a muzzle velocity of 3000 f.p.s. or less. 
     
     
       2. Transparent ceramic armor comprising, a light weight composite of transparent material adapted to shatter small arms projectiles on impact, consisting of a transparent facing of magnesium oxide adapted to spread the impact force of a projectile and bonded with a transparent adhesive to a transparent plastic backing adapted to absorb any excess energy from impact on face plate, said backing reduced both in ballistic requirement and in weight by the greater distribution of the impact force by the face plate whereby the composite provides improved protection with transparent armor over standard steel armor of equal areal density. 
     
     
       3. Transparent ceramic armor comprising, a light weight composite of transparent material adapted on impact to shatter projectiles with a muzzle velocity of approximately 3000 f.p.s., consisting of a transparent face plate of magnesium oxide adapted on impact to spread and reduce the impact force per unit area and bonded with a transparent adhesive to a transparent plastic backup plate as a safety factor to absorb excess energy of the impact together with fragments of the face plate and the projectile so constructed and arranged that the requirements of the back-up plate are materially reduced by the reaction of the face plate in reducing the impact force per unit area to permit the light weight composite provide complete ballistic protection against projectiles with a muzzle velocity of 3000 f.p.s. or less. 
     
     
       4. Transparent ceramic armor comprising, a light weight composite of transparent material with an areal density of 14.0 pounds per square foot adapted to shatter on impact projectiles with a muzzle velocity of approximately 3000 f.p.s., consisting of a transparent face plate of magnesium oxide 0.50" thick adapted on impact to spread and reduce the impact force per unit area and bonded with a transparent adhesive to a transparent plastic back-up plate 0.75" thick adapted to absorb less excess energy per unit area due to the greater distribution of impact force per unit area by the face plate whereby the light weight composite provides improved protection with transparent armor over standard steel armor of equal areal density. 
     
     
       5. Transparent ceramic armor comprising, a light weight composite of transparent material with an areal density 16.4 pounds per square foot adapted to shatter on impact projectiles with a muzzle valocity of approximately 3000 f.p.s., consisting of a transparent laminated face plate of two plates of aluminum oxide each 0.250" thick adapted on impact to spread and reduce the impact force per unit area and bonded with a transparent adhesive to a transparent plastic back-up plate 1.00" thick adapted to absorb less excess energy per unit area due to the greater distribution of the impact force per unit area by the face plate so constructed and arranged that the light weight composite provides improved ballistic protection with transparent armor over standard steel armor of equal areal density. 
     
     
       6. A transparent ceramic armor comprising a light weight composite of transparent material adapted to shatter on impact projectiles with a muzzle velocity of approximately 3000 f.p.s., consisting of a transparent face plate of aluminum oxide 0.5" thick adapted on impact to spread and reduce the impact force per unit area and bonded with a transparent adhesive to a transparent plastic back-up plate 1.00" thick reduced in ballistic requirement by the greater distribution of the impact force on the face plate so constructed and arranged that the light weight transparent composite has an areal density not exceeding 16.5 pounds per square foot and provides complete ballistic protection against projectiles with a muzzle velocity of 3000 f.p.s. or less.