Microstructure analysis and comparison of tungsten alloy rod and [001] oriented columnar-grained tungsten rod ballistic penetrators

Tungsten heavy alloy (WHA) penetrator rods (93% W particles in a matrix of 4.9% Ni and 2.1% Fe) were compared with [001] columnar-grained W penetrator rods in the as-fabricated condition, and after penetration into thick targets at impact velocities of 1 and 1.5 km s−1, respectively. Light metallography and transmission electron microscopy revealed the initial W microstructures to be similar arrangements of predominantly a〈111〉/2 screw dislocations. The in-target (deformed) microstructures were characterized by recovered and elongated sub-grains having misorientations ranging from 1 to 5°.