Hypervelocity impact of TiB2-based composites as front bumpers for space shield applications

•A novel Whipple-type shield configuration with a front bumper of TiB2-based composite is designed in this paper.•The composite bumper exhibits better protection efficiency than the aluminum bumper by the hypervelocity impact tests.•The relationship between the debris cloud formation and the damage mechanism of the composite bumper is discussed.•The well-fractured projectile and widespread debris are the main reasons for better performance of the composite bumper.•The potential application of the TiB2-based composite for micrometeoroid and orbital debris shielding is discussed.

Based on the typical Whipple-type shield, a novel shield configuration with a front bumper of TiB2-based composite is designed in this paper, and the hypervelocity impact tests are conducted to compare the protection performance of this new composite bumper with that