Improve material performance with a new lightweight, robust solution

The solution

Developed by AWE, a new material (CaRBON) has been designed to provide a solution to the common drawbacks associated with both traditional armour materials (including B₄C) as well as pure B₆O alternatives. The result is a nanocomposite material technology that is capable of providing multiple types of protection for users, while being easier to manufacture.

CaRBON combines complimentary traits of the existing materials B₄C and B₆O, which provide a greater level of hardness than B₆O alone (by increasing densification during the fusing process), and is more robust than B₄C, with little indication of ‘amorphisation’ (loss of crystal structure) – resolving the significant issues for these materials. This creates a novel high-performance material without the problem of adding extra weight.

CaRBON has a unique composite structure to both B₆O and B₄C and has also demonstrated beneficial properties for neutron radiation shielding. Samples subject to high energy neutron radiation exposure showed no visible signs of damage and low measured radioactivity levels (0.2 mSv over eight consecutive days of testing – less than the radioactivity of two bananas).

Key benefits

• CaRBON is lighter weight than the current options on the market – saving costs and providing physical benefits to users.
• The material offers a high level of hardness and exhibits altered fracture mechanics, which protects against a wide range of threats.
• The material exhibits resistance to high energy neutron damage, and can therefore be potentially used in these physical environments.
• The material is easier to process than pure B₆O and B₄C
• The CaRBON material is one of the best performing on the market, even at low densities.