Based on using combustion synthesis under high gravity to prepare TiC-TiB2 composite, the ceramic armour targets were achieved by the heat-shrunk laternal, cover and back confinements of steel sleeves and plates. Ballistic testing showed that under the impact of long-rod tungsten alloy projectile, the low-carbon-steel sleeve failed to laterally confine the ceramic due to its inadequate residual strength, resulting in poor ballistic performance of the ceramic, whereas the medium-carbon-steel sleeve had a sufficient residual strength to support lateral confinement of the ceramic as the long-rod tungsten alloy projectile makes room in the ceramic for its penetration, the confined ceramic could present its real ballistic performance, and the results of ballistic testing promised lateral confinement and cover confinement of high-strength metal would be beneficial to the improvement in ballistic performance of ceramic armour.

Based on preparing TiC-40mol%TiB2 composite by combustion synthesis under high gravity, the ballistic targets with different-thickness ceramic tiles were achieved by lateral, cover and back confinements of shrink-fit steel. Ballistic testing showed that as the thickness of ceramic tile was smaller than 12 mm, the penetration of the ceramic tile was mainly controlled by the combination of the initial-shock and steady-state penetration, resulting in poor ballistic performance of the ceramic. As the thickness of ceramic tile was larger than 12 mm, the penetration of the ceramic tile was controlled by the combination of steady-state and third-stage (projectile deceleration and erosion acceleration) penetration, resulting in improved ballistic performance of the ceramic.