High Pressure Response of Siliceous Materials

Abstract : Several siliceous (i.e., materials containing, resembling, relating to or consisting of silica or silicon dioxide) materials were examined in this study conducted by Oak Ridge National Laboratory and sponsored by the US Army TARDEC. Some were glasses (fused silica or fused quartz, Starphire soda lime silicate glass, hydrated Starphire, BOROFLOAT borosilicate glass, an iron-containing soda lime silicate glass, opal (a hydrated silicate glass), ROBAX glass ceramic, and others were single crystal (α-quartz) and polycrystalline (Coesite - a high pressure phase of crystalline quartz) ceramics. Some of these materials are presently used in transparent armor systems or are under consideration for such. The testing of these materials allowed for comparisons of glass types, glass versus glass ceramics, effect of water content, and comparison of amorphous versus crystalline materials of the same composition.