Superior Ballistic Performance of Ti–Al3Ti Based Metal–Intermetallic Composites Against 7.62 AP Projectiles

The present work focuses on the ballistic performance of Ti–Al3Ti metal–intermetallic laminate (MIL) composites. In this work, Ti–Al3Ti-based MIL composites were prepared using reactive foil sintering method. Reactive foil sintering produces Ti–Al3Ti composite from elemental metal foils of Ti and Al using a controlled reaction carried out (at high temperature and pressure) in the open-air environment. Differential mass efficiency was used to evaluate the ballistic performance of MIL composite, and the results were compared with that of conventionally used rolled homogeneous armour steel (RHA) and Ti–6Al–4V alloy. It is observed that Ti–Al3Ti MIL composites have about 30% higher differential mass efficiency in comparison with RHA steel and about 10% higher differential mass efficiency than Ti–6Al–4V. Influence of microstructure and mechanical properties on the ballistic performance of Ti–Al3Ti MIL composites is discussed. Further, energy-absorbing mechanisms activated during ballistic impact are elucidated using post-ballistic microstructural analysis.