- Alumina
Alumina, also known as aluminum oxide, is the most common type of ceramic used in body armor. It is a high-density (3.8g/cc) material that provides excellent protection against high-velocity rounds (including steel-cored rounds) with great fracture toughness. Alumina ceramic is relatively lightweight and has a low manufacturing cost, making it a popular choice for body armor manufacturers.
- Silicon Carbide
Silicon Carbide is a high-performance material that provides superior protection against armor-piercing rounds. It has a higher hardness than alumina ceramic and is more resistant to wear and tear. Silicon Carbide is also more lightweight than Alumina and has excellent multi-hit capability making it a popular choice for high-level ballistic protection.
- Boron Carbide
Boron Carbide is the third hardest material (only behind cubic boron nitride and diamond) that offers exceptional protection against multiple hits. Possessing higher hardness than alumina and silicon carbide ceramic makes it one of the resistant materials currently used in ceramic body armor. Boron carbide is extremely lightweight with the lowest density (2.49g/cc). This makes it a popular choice in body armor for those who are looking to save weight while not losing out on the level of protection against threats.
In conclusion, ceramic body armor can be made from various types of ceramics, each with its unique properties and levels of protection. Alumina is the most cost-friendly, Silicon Carbide is the middle ground between the three, and Boron Carbide is the most expensive yet offering the best single-shot protection. We hope that by explaining the differences between the different types of body armor, you can be more informed and inclined to do extensive research before purchasing plates.
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