Sialon for Monolithic Ceramic Gun Barrel Liners

Standard chromium plated steel gun barrels have long been a limitation in lifecycle and lethality and limits utilization of more advanced propellants and projectiles as well as inherently heavy. It is anticipated that some select ceramic materials as gun barrel liners will substantially increase barrel life, accuracy, muzzle kinetic energy and provide a considerable weight reduction. One specific sialon ceramic composition of Si3Al3O3N5 has higher strength and fracture toughness than any other monolithic ceramic and has been production produced by the PI in tubes similar to gun barrel liners in lengths of 1200 mm with a tolerance very close to that required for gun barrel liners. This program will utilize the demonstrated production processing of Si3Al3O3N5 sialon as a basis and demonstrate processing control to produce 500 mm barrels that meet diameter tolerance of ±0.15 mm and concentricity/bowing specification equivalent to current metal barrels. Sialon tubes 500 mm long that meet tolerance specifications will be delivered and a 1000 mm tube will be produced which is possible because of the established production processing that has produced 1200 mm sialon tubes.