Compositions Optimization of Antang Corundum for Developing Advanced Ceramic

Abstract

-The research aims to study and optimize the formulation of materials required for advanced ceramic production using response surface methodology (RSM). In this research effort, the five (5) process independent variables studied with their corresponding levels are: Antang corundum powder, A (92.2 -100 %W); polyvinyl alcohol, B (0 -5 %W); CaO, C (0 -2.3 %W); MgO, D (0 -0.5 %W);and the sintering temperature, E (1200 -1500 °C).The mechanical property responses determined were density, ρ, compressive strength, C/S,flexural strength, F/S; which are key characteristics of ceramics for armour applications. The optimized density, compressive strength and flexural strength of the sintered Antang corundum are 3.45 g/cm 3 g, 1982 MPa and 295 MPa respectively; while the respective RSM prediction values are 3.46 g/cm 3 g, 1979 MPa and 286 MPa. The optimum material compositions from the experiment were Corundum, 95.66 %W; PVA, 2.78 %W; CaO, 1.28 %W; MgO, 0.28 %W at a Sintering Temperature of 1500 °C.On comparing the determined optimum mechanical responses of the sintered Antang ceramic with the maximum RSM prediction values, there is high level of assurance in using RSM for the formulation processing ceramic armour development.

Numerical and Experimental Study of Ceramic/Steel Composite for Structural Applications

“…Normally, the ability of armour to stop bullets, ballistics effectiveness, is not determined by visual inspection but must be inferred from the results of live-firing test [40]. Sintered alumina ceramic (10 ×120 ×120 mm) prepared by sintering process [26] was used as the facial plate; and Table 4 gives the physical properties of the sintered alumina (AC-86.6). The ceramic was laminated onto 7×120×120 mm armour steel (donated by Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria), Fig.…”

“…It was reported that the reduction in layer thickness leads to increase in the system strength. Alumina ceramic had been previously prepared by sintering process from purified corundum [25,26]. This study strives to determine the ballistic influence of the ceramic on ceramic/steel composite as well as finding the optimum thickness of the ceramic required to make an applied component of ceramic/steel armour system for structural ballistic applications.…”