Ceramic materials are brittle and thus, they are susceptible to impacts. Therefore, ceramics alone have only a low ballistic protection effect. In composite systems (for example, combined ceramic/polymer armour) for body armour and vehicle protection however, ceramics materials have succeeded in to a large extent in replacing previously used steel plates, mostly for weight-saving reasons of up to 50%.

There is a different mechanism underlying the protective effect of ceramic composite armour. When striking the ceramic surface, the projectile tip is deformed, causing an extension of the cross section. When subsequently penetrating the ceramics, the projectile is micronised. Due to their lower mass, the kinetic energy of the fragments is considerably lower, and therefore it is completely absorbed within the backing by elastic-plastic deformation.