Correlation of Microstructure and Ballistic Performance of Multilayered Zr-based Amorphous Surface Composites Fabricated by High-Energy Electron-Beam Irradiation

In this study, multilayered, Zr-based amorphous surface composites were fabricated by high-energy electron-beam irradiation; the correlation of their microstructure, hardness, compressive properties, and fracture properties with ballistic performance was investigated. The mixture of Zr-based amorphous powders and LiF + MgF₂ flux powders was deposited on a pure Ti substrate or a plain carbon steel substrate, and then an electron beam was irradiated on this powder mixture to fabricate a one-layered surface composite. The multilayered surface composite was fabricated by an irradiating electron beam several times again onto the powder mixture deposited on the one-layered surface composite. The microstructural analysis results indicated that a small amount of fine crystalline particles was distributed homogeneously in the surface composite layer. Because the surface composite layers absorbed the ballistic impact energy by forming many cracks or microcracks, the surface composite plates were not perforated during the ballistic impact test. On the one hand, in the surface composite without containing ductile β phases, the composite layer was cracked completely and fallen off from the substrate. On the other hand, a small amount of fragmentation was found in the impacted area of the composite containing β phases because it had the sufficient hardness and fracture toughness simultaneously for effectively blocking the traveling of a projectile, thereby improving ballistic performance.