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Pros and Cons of Ceramic Armor

Ceramic (the C Series) defeats the most lethal threats of all our body armor categories. If you're looking for the highest protection level available, ceramic body armor gives you the most stopping power. In this section, we’ll give you an overview of the pros and cons of ceramic armor.

Before we do that, let’s answer a few questions about ceramic body armor:

  • Is ceramic good for amor?
  • What is ceramic body armor?
  • How is ceramic body armor made?
  • How does ceramic body armor work?

What is Ceramic Armor?

Manufacturers make ceramic body armor out of three possible materials:

  1. Aluminum oxide: Thickest and heaviest, but the most affordable.
  2. Silicon Carbide: Thinnest and lightest, but the most expensive.
  3. Boron Carbide: Medium thickness and weight, with a price point between the first two.

Are these three levels of protection? No. Each of these types of ceramic provides the same protection level. The only difference is the thickness, the weight, and the price.

A ceramic strike face dissipates the bullet’s impact across its front. When this happens, the ceramic cracks as it slows the bullet down. Ceramic plates then rely on a polyethylene (PE) backer. The backer catches the projectile and absorbs most of its remaining energy.

 

Is Ceramic Armor Better Than Steel?

We often hear the question: "Which armor is better, steel or ceramic?" - to answer this question we've put together another Knowledge Base article to deep dive into that comparison: Steel vs Ceramic Armor Plates

Pros and Cons of Ceramic Body Armor from Armored Republic

Pros of Ceramic Body Armor 

Why is ceramic good armor?

Ceramic armor is popular with military professionals for its high protection level. But it can be an excellent option for the civilian as well. Look at some of the benefits of ceramic body armor to determine whether it suits you.

  • High-Powered Rifle-Rated Protection: Ceramic armor offers the most stopping power out of all types of body armor. Level IV ceramic armor protects you against everything in levels II and III, plus:
    • .30 caliber armor-piercing (AP) bullets with a specified mass of 10.8g (166gr) and a velocity of 2,880 feet per second (FPS). The U.S. military designates this ammunition M2 AP.
    • 5.56
    • 7.62x39
    • 7.62x51
    • .308 Winchester

You won’t get that kind of protection against AP ammunition from any other armor type. That’s the main benefit of ceramic armor.

  • Low Backface Deformation: Ceramic armor tends to have relatively low backface deformation (BFD). BFD is when the ballistic plate deforms to the interior (the side against your body) after a projectile strike. According to the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) .06 standards, a BFD of up to 44mm, or 1.73”, is still passing. A ballistic plate that allows that much BFD may save your life, but you’d probably have significant injuries. While steel armor has the lowest levels of BFD, ceramic armor performs very well, too. Ceramic armor outperforms both soft armor and polyethylene armor in BFD testing. We recommend utilizing a trauma pad regardless of which armor you choose. Learn more about the benefits of trauma pads.
  • Thinner than Polyethylene: Since polyethylene is so light, it requires a lot to become effective. Some people are interested in polyethylene for its rifle-rated protection but don't like its thickness. Ceramic armor has an edge here. Though not as thin as steel plates, you can get a thinner, rifle-rated plate with ceramic, while not increasing the weight too much.
  • Lighter Than Steel: Piggybacking off the last point, you can see how ceramic has certain benefits over polyethylene and steel. Ceramic armor is not as light as soft armor or PE but is lighter than steel. You might choose ceramic over PE because you want to go thinner. But you might choose PE over steel because you want to go lighter. A steel plate could be 5-9 pounds, depending on the size, the type of cut, and the amount of coating. How heavy is ceramic body armor? Ceramic armor gives the elevated level of protection you’re looking for at under 4 pounds per plate. Lighter armor means ease of mobility and less fatigue over time.
  • Less Expensive than Polyethylene: While it's tough to put a price on your protection, the cost is still a key factor. Ceramic armor is not as inexpensive as steel, but it is more affordable than polyethylene. For a level III PE plate, you may spend over $100 more than a level IV ceramic plate.

 

Cons of Ceramic Body Armor

Now you have a solid grasp of the highlights of ceramic body armor. But before you choose ceramic, you should be aware of its negatives. We want you to have the whole picture before making such a critical decision. So, what are some downsides to ceramic armor?

  • Brittle Composition: Do ceramic armor plates break easily? The main disadvantage of ceramic armor is its brittle nature. Because of that, it's more susceptible to damage than other armor types. Since there is a higher likelihood of damage with ceramics, you’ll want to inspect it at least annually for cracks and hairline fractures. You can do this by x-raying the plate to scan for any flaws that would compromise its integrity. Damage can occur from any of the following:
    • Dropping the armor plate to the ground
    • Improperly storing or handling the plate
    • Dropping tools and other items onto the armor (as could happen in the trunk of your car)
    • Falling while wearing your armor 
  • Not Multi-Hit Capable: When we say this, we mean for the most part. To make ceramic armor multi-hit capable, manufacturers must utilize multiple precision-tiled plates. So, can ceramic armor take multiple hits or not? Ceramic armor is generally not multi-hit capable due to the price point involved in making it so. It can also cause vulnerabilities between the seams of the tiles and along the edges of the strike face. However, manufacturers who produce multi-hit level IV plates typically do so with the discretion that the hits are spaced at a minimum of a few inches apart. How many shots can ceramic armor take? Ceramic armor’s main function is to stop a single impact of high-powered rifle ammunition, up to AP capabilities. After that first bullet cracks the ceramic strike face, the plate has lost some of its stopping power. But defeating that single shot is what the NIJ requires for level IV armor.
  • Inconsistent Edge Protection: As we mentioned above, ceramic armor usually relies on a polyethylene backer. Therefore, you can expect the same inconsistent edge protection you'd have with PE. The outer edge of PE armor may not be a ballistically-rated zone per the NIJ standards. If you purchase a 10"x 12" ceramic plate, you may be thinking that’s the measurement of your ballistic protection. But that’s not necessarily the case. Anywhere from 2 to 3 inches from the edge could be a vulnerable spot. If that's a concern, you could move to steel armor to get complete edge-to-edge protection. For more on that, read our Knowledge Base article on armor protection.
  • Short Shelf-Life: You might be wondering, how long does ceramic body armor last? As you just read, that depends partly on how you treat it. Due to its brittle composition, it can have a short life if you don't handle it with care. Does ceramic body armor have a shelf life? Assuming you take diligent care of your armor, it has a shelf life of 5 years. That’s typical of most armor. The 20-year shelf life of steel armor is an alternative for those who want something that will last longer. 
  • More Expensive Than Steel: Another drawback to ceramic armor is the price tag, particularly when you compare it to steel. To give you an idea, you’ll likely pay an additional $100 per plate going from a level III+ rated steel alloy plate to level IV rated ceramic armor. Is ceramic armor better than steel? Just because it costs more, doesn’t make it “better.” The armor that’s better for you is the one that meets your individual needs.

 

Conclusion

Our goal is to equip you to make an informed decision when it comes to your personal protection. We hope we've provided you with the information you need to decide if ceramic armor is appropriate for you. If you’re interested in our collection of ceramic armor products, head to our Body Armor page, and browse our C series armor.

Categories: Intro to Body Armor