Ceramic Transparent Armor May Replace “Bullet-Proof Glass”
“Better living through chemistry”? How about better ballistic protection through a new ceramic-based “Spinel” bullet-proof transparent material. Spinel Ceramic Armor, though transparent like glass, is a completely new compound that starts as a powder. Produced by ArmorLine, the amazing new “Spinel Transparent Ceramic Armor” is HALF the thickness and HALF the weight of conventional, laminated “bullet-proof glass” with similar ballistic protection. Being much lighter than “bullet-proof glass”, the Spinel Transparent Armor is ideal for use in vehicles and aircraft where weight is an important factor. By replacing laminated glass with Spinel Transparent Armor plates, hundreds of pounds could be shaved from the weight of a troop transport vehicle without sacrificing any ballistic protection.
As shown in the above video, a “Spinel” ceramic plate can survive a direct hit from a .50 BMG round fired at close range. By all indications, this is an important new technology that should find its way into military vehicles in the near future. ArmorLine’s manufacturing facility, scheduled to come on-line in the first quarter of 2011, will supply transparent Spinel ceramic plates to window, lens, and optical system suppliers and end-users.
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Tags: Armor, Bulletproof, Ceramic, Glass, Security Glass
Yeah, but will it reduce my heating bill when I install it on my house?!
Are you sure this isn’t called “transparent aluminum”?
I have tested the laminated old school laminated stuff (polycarbonate-lexan-polycarbonate)and with handgun strikes you can still see through it fine enough to drive. I wonder how well the ceramic remains clear when shot by pistol calibers?
I’ll bet it isn’t cheap either.
Nat Lambeth
Isn’t glass a type of ceramic?
http://chemed.chem.purdue.edu/genchem/topicreview/bp/materials/ceramic4.html#glass
The armour was developed as part of a US Army research program.
http://www.armymantech.com/highlights/TSpinelArmor.pdf
http://www.armymantech.com/SucessStories/TransparentSpinel20120301.pdf
The spinel based armour seems to be produced by hot (possibly vacuum) pressing. The high hardness, around that of tool steels, is greater than standard glass, but not as hard a sapphire based glass, but most likely far cheaper.
When combined with a suitable transparent backing material (spall liner), this results in a much thinner protective laminate armour, most likely the result of the initial dwell effect on impact and higher overall resistance to deformation.
It would be interesting to see what it’s resistance to AP rounds is, the ammunition used was standard ball, with mild steel cores.
Dear Sir,
Could you send me the price of Spinel ceramics transparent in range 0.2 micron to 5 micron?
Ex: Diameter 50 mm, 100mm and 200mm.
Thank you in advance.
Horacio.
Dr. Horacio Jesus Tellez Oliva.
R&D Manager.
DIAROTECH S.A
Chaussee de Charleroi, 95
ZAMI 2
6060 Gilly
BELGIUM
Tel. : 0032 (0)71 287 720
and 0032 (0)71 287 624
Fax : 0032 (0)71 287 732
Email: horacio.tellez.oliva@diarotech.com
http://www.diarotech.com/