Armor panel

Abstract

An armor panel for ballistic protection, comprising at least an armor layer which is at least partially made of cemented carbide in the form of metal-carbide aggregate embedded within a metal binder matrix.

1 . An armor panel for ballistic protection, comprising:
 a monolithic layer made only of cemented carbide in the form of metal-carbide aggregate embedded within a metal binder matrix, wherein said cemented carbide has a fracture toughness ranging from 7-20 Mpa*(m 1/2 ); and   at least one ballistic backing layer fitted to said monolithic layer, said backing layer having a hardness lower than that of said monolithic layer, wherein the monolithic layer is capable of being used on its own as a stand-alone ballistic layer.   
     
     
         2 . An armor panel according to  claim 1 , wherein the metal-carbide aggregate is in the form of grains having a grain size not exceeding 20 μm. 
     
     
         3 . An armor panel according to  claim 1 , wherein the composition is such that said metal-carbide aggregate constitutes at least one of the following:
 (i) at least 70% by volume; and   (ii) at least 80% by weight.   
     
     
         4 . An armor panel according to  claim 1 , wherein the composition is such that said metal binder matrix constitutes at least one of the following:
 (i) No more than 30% by volume; and   (i) No more than 80% by weight.   
     
     
         5 . An armor panel according to  claim 1 , wherein said carbide aggregate has a melting point ranging from 1800-3990° C. 
     
     
         6 . An armor panel according to  claim 1 , wherein the metal of said metal binder has a melting point ranging from 1450-1536° C. 
     
     
         7 . An armor panel according to  claim 1 , wherein said cemented carbide has a hardness ranging from 87-93 HRa. 
     
     
         8 . An armor panel according to  claim 1 , wherein said cemented carbide has a density ranging from 5.5-15.5 gr/cc. 
     
     
         9 . An armor panel according to  claim 1 , wherein said cemented carbide has a porosity ranging from 0-2%. 
     
     
         10 . An armor panel according to  claim 1 , wherein said metal-carbide aggregate has a higher melting point than that of said metal binder. 
     
     
         11 . An armor panel according to  claim 1 , wherein said metal-carbide aggregate has a lower fracture toughness than that of said metal binder. 
     
     
         12 . A method of manufacture of an armor panel, comprising:
 manufacturing a monolithic layer made only of cemented carbide in the form of a metal-carbide aggregate embedded within a metal matrix, said cemented carbide having a fracture toughness ranging from 7-20 Mpa*(m 1/2 ), and incorporating said monolithic layer within said armor panel; and   fitting at least one ballistic backing layer fitted to said monolithic layer, said backing layer having a hardness lower than that of said monolithic layer,   wherein the monolithic layer is capable of being used on its own as a stand-alone ballistic layer.   
     
     
         13 . An armor panel according to  claim 1 , wherein, compared to a reference plate made of the same material as the at least one ballistic backing layer and having a thickness T and weight W, T and W being the minimal required to allow the reference plate to withstand a level 3 STANAG 4569 ballistic threat, the monolithic layer of cemented carbide provides the same level of ballistic protection with a thickness t>T and weight w<W. 
     
     
         14 . An armor panel according to  claim 13 , wherein the ratio  w/W  is approximately 0.4. 
     
     
         15 . An armor panel according to  claim 13 , wherein the ratio  t/T  is approximately 0.5. 
     
     
         16 . An armor panel for ballistic protection, comprising:
 at least a layer made of a plurality of armor pellets made only of cemented carbide in the form of metal-carbide aggregate embedded within a metal binder matrix, wherein said cemented carbide has a fracture toughness ranging from 7-20 Mpa*(m 1/2 ).   
     
     
         17 . An armor panel according to  claim 1 , wherein said backing layer is a metallic layer having no metallic interface with said monolithic layer. 
     
     
         18 . An armor panel according to  claim 1 , wherein said backing layer is configured for serving as a spall-liner. 
     
     
         19 . An armor panel according to  claim 1 , wherein the monolithic layer is a separately manufactured layer. 
     
     
         20 . An armor panel according to  claim 1 , wherein, compared to a reference plate made of the same material as the at least one ballistic backing layer and having a thickness T and weight W, T and W being the minimal required to allow the reference plate to withstand a level 3 STANAG 4569 ballistic threat, the armor panel provides the same level of ballistic protection with a thickness t>T and weight w<W. 
     
     
         21 . An armor panel according to  claim 1 , wherein the metal-carbide aggregate is in the form of grains homogenously spread throughout the binder. 
     
     
         22 . An armor panel according to  claim 12 , wherein the metal-carbide aggregate is in the form of grains homogenously spread throughout the binder.