DIAMOND-LIKE FILMS FOR EM LAUNCHER INSULATOR APPLICATIONS

MATERIALS, BOTH CONDUCTORS AND INSULATORS, CAPABLE OF WITHSTANDING THE VERY HOSTILE PLASMA CONDITIONS FOUND IN AN ELECTROMAGNETIC LAUNCHER IS CURRENTLY ONE OF THE WEAK LINKS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF SUCH SYSTEMS. ONE OF THE BEST SUBSTANCES KNOWN FOR INSULATORS IS DIAMONDS. WE HAVE RECENTLY BEEN ABLE TO PRODUCE EXTREMELY UNIFORM DIAMOND-LIKE FILMS IN OUR LABORATORY. THE FILM IS DISTINGUISHED BY A COMPLETE LACK OF GRAPHITE CONTENT AND UNDER ELECTRON MICROSCOPE, SHOWED NO FINE STRUCTURE DOWN TO MICRON SIZE. SINCE THE MATERIAL IS PRODUCED UNDER PLASMA ASSISTED CONDITIONS, IT SHOULD ALSO BE ABLE TO TOLERATE FAIRLY HOSTILE CONDITIONS AFTER THE MATERIAL IS FORMED. THEREFORE, MATERIALS COATED WITH DIAMOND-LIKE FILMS MAY BE SUITABLE INSULATOR FOR USE IN HYPERVELOCITY EM GUNS. A PHASE I PROGRAM TO PREPARE SAMPLES OF THE MATERIAL ON SUITABLE SUBSTRATES TO BE TESTED IN A PLASMA THAT SIMULATES THE CONDITION TO BE ENCOUNTERED IN EM LAUNCHERS IS PROPOSED. IF THE RESULTS ARE ENCOURAGING, A MORE AMBITIOUS PROGRAM TO COAT MATERIALS FOR INCORPORATION INTO OPERATING EM GUNS CAN BE CARRIED OUT UNDER PHASE II.