Processes connected with local laser heating of TiB2 armor ceramics

The process of high-temperature heating of TiB2 armor ceramics in air in a continuous and pulsed mode of laser irradiation has been studied by the X-ray diffraction and SEM methods. It has been established that, in the irradiation zone, the temperature increases up to 3000 ?C and over, resulting in the decomposition of TiB2 and appearance of ablation products, which, in passage of air, oxidize and form dense films (in the pulsed mode) or ?reticulated? films (in the CW mode) consisting of boron and titanium oxides. The mechanism of laser-induced breakdown of TiB2 ceramics is similar to the mechanism of ballistic destruction.