Composite materials and methods for making same

A component of a ballistic armor, said component comprising at least one ceramic layer and at least one backing layer placed behind and bonded to said ceramic layer;

• said ceramic layer comprising at least one siliconized boron carbide composite body comprising
• (a) a matrix comprising an alloy comprising silicon and at least some boron dissolved in said silicon, said matrix containing no more than 2 vol % of beta-SiC;
• and
• (b) at least one reinforcement material comprising a plurality of boron carbide filler bodies dispersed throughout said matrix;
• wherein said component contains no beta-SiC.

A method for making a composite material, comprising:

• providing a porous mass comprising at least one reinforcement material comprising boron carbide, wherein said porous mass contains no reactable carbon;
• providing an infiltrant material comprising elemental silicon and at least one substance comprising boron;
• heating said infiltrant material to a temperature above the liquidus temperature of said infiltrant material to form a molten infiltrant material;
• communicating said molten infiltrant material into contact with said porous mass;
• infiltrating said molten infiltrant material into said porous mass to form a composite body comprising a matrix component comprising silicon metal, a reinforcement component comprising boron carbide dispersed throughout said matrix, said composite material containing no beta-SiC;
• and
• solidifying said molten infiltrant material.