Tanks can shoot kinetic energy “dart” ammo. Scientists say that Tungsten ones dull as they penetrate steel. But depleted uranium ones sharpen. How can this be true?

Question

Are some metals really that different from each other. Thank you.

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Answer 1

>Are some metals really that different from each other.

Yes. Just think of the differences between iron, copper, titanium, aluminium, and gold.

The self sharpening bit has been explained already.

Tungsten by comparison will deform like you’d expect many metals to. It is also heavy and hard, so while it will deform it also has good penetration for armour piercing applications.