Ceramic armor

Ceramic armor is armor used by armored vehicles and in personal armor for its attenuative properties.

Hard ceramic materials defeat the kinetic energy projectile by shattering it into pieces so that decreasing the penetration ability of projectile. In case of HEAT rounds the shattered ceramic fragments destroy the geometry of the metal jet generated by the shaped charge, greatly diminishing the penetration. Ceramic materials cannot be used as a stand alone for amrour applications because of its shattering effect due to their inherent nature of brittleness. Therefore, in order prevent the shattered ceramic and projectile pieces from further damaging the protected system, ceramic materials should always be supported by a ductile backing with metallic or polymeric composite materials. Another advantage of using backing material is to improve the ballistic performance of ceramics by preventing its premature failure.

Ceramic plates (also known as trauma plates) are commonly used as inserts in soft ballistic vests. Most ceramic plates used in body armor provide National Institute of Justice Type III protection, allowing them to stop rifle bullets. Ceramic plates are a form of composite armor. Insert plates may also be manufactured from steel or ultra high molecular weight polyethylene.

A ceramic plate is usually slipped into the outer layer of a soft armor vest. There may be two plates, one in the front and one in the back, or one universal plate on either front or back. Some vests permit the usage of small plates on the sides for additional protection.

Ceramic plates issued by the United States military are called Enhanced Small Arms Protective Inserts (ESAPI).

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