Silicon carbide body having pores filled with steel or steel alloys

摘要

A molded porous silicon carbide body in the shape of an armor plate, made by coking a mixture of carbon and silicon powder coated with an organic binder to which some silicon carbide powder may be added, and then rapidly raising the temperature to a level at which silicon carbide is formed, is impregnated so that its pores are filled with steel or a steel alloy to produce a plate that has the hardness and stiffness of silicon carbide and the toughness of metal. The plate has superior resistance to hollow or shaped explosive charges. The lower density provided by the silicon carbide favors its use in armored vehicles.