Sources of Materials for Kinetic Energy Penetrator

    The United States primarily uses depleted uranium in its kinetic energy penetrators as of 2011. This material is a byproduct of nuclear reactors that is mildly radioactive and highly carcinogenic but also extremely dense. A  relatively cheap material due to the quantities of nuclear waste generated by the United States each year, depleted uranium is used in ammunition for tanks as well as aircraft.

        Kinetic energy penetrators are dense metal projectiles designed to defeat the armor on tanks. Fired at high velocities, these penetrators are aerodynamically optimized to minimize air resistance. Tungsten alloy are a bit less dense and more expensive than depleted uranium, but have proven in field exercises to have better penetration characteristics due to their lighter weight. Unfortunately, tungsten's sources are in metal mines and it requires a good deal of refining to make it a viable penetrator core. So i think  future penetrators may incorporate silicon carbide-tungsten glass alloys instead of depleted uranium

       Read more: http://www.tungsten-alloy.com.