Innovative Methods for Bonding Large Scale Sections of Tungsten

In this phase II program Advanced Ceramics Manufacturing (ACM) will develop tungsten-based Fibrous Monolith (FM) composites for kinetic penetrator applications. Incorporation of tungsten and weaker/ductile metals into the FM macrostructure will allowtungsten to be an effect replacement for depleted uranium. There is a strong move to replace depleted uranium with tungsten alloys for environmental reasons. However, tungsten alloys penetration performance does not compare to the adiabatic shearmechanisms that lead to self-sharpening of depleted uranium. Tungsten itself is inherently resistant to adiabatic shearing therefore exhibiting mushrooming effects upon impact. Newly developed tungsten FM composites exhibit localized, unstable shearfailure and self-sharpening properties during penetration. The FM laminate structure allows shearing mechanisms to be built into the tungsten-based composite by combining tungsten alloy materials with weaker but structurally sound interface materials suchas tungsten carbide, tungsten carbide cobalt, tungsten nickel iron alloy and high strength steel. Similar to traditional composites, FM composites may vary in orientation further allowing ACM to promote composites deformation mechanisms for enhanced depthpenetration. The development of metal-based composites lends itself to commercial applications within the mining and drilling industry.