Lightweight Gun Barrel

Christensen Arms proposes to research and apply existing high temperature materials to expand current lightweight gun barrel technology. Christensen Arms to date, has designed, structurally analyzed and fabricated for the civilian and military market over1,000 lightweight graphite-epoxy gun barrels (.17 caliber through .50 Caliber). Test specimens have strongly demonstrated significant temperature reductions over standard metal barrels per MIL-S-46047E. The barrel design will take advantage of years ofpast advanced composite experience by Christensen Arms design and production team. This includes research experience on many DoD composite weapon system designs, including analysis, pre-production fabrication, tooling, first article testing andproduction-run manufacturing of land, water and aerospace components and assemblies. Current company funded research on high temperature materials for semi and fully automatic weapons will be incorporated.Christensen Arms standard barrels have a thinmatch grade stainless steel liner and are over-wound with a graphite/epoxy casing in accordance with four patents and two patents pending. The design for this proposal will be based on this proven technology.Existing ultra high temperature resistantmetals and/or barrier/wear coatings will be used for the barrel liner. An existing or an in-house high temperature composite matrix will be used for the barrel casing.Christensen Arms is committed to succeeding during the Phase I effort of the lightweightgun barrel program. We sincerely feel that we are closing in on the solution or combination of solutions to this now long standing need. If the program is a success, then it will be a great advancement in gun technology. Our findings show that there area significant number of small to medium sized commercial entities that are also in various stages of solving this problem. We have aligned ourselves with some of them and intend to achieve further alignments in the near future. The benefits of these manyefforts will result in superiority in some extremely critical weapon systems throughout the DoD. Potential Commercial Applications other than weapons include: Pistons and piston housings(combustion engines), High pressure or hot ignition chambers(rocketmotors, jet engines, aerospace), Hot gas insulation chambers(Automobile mufflers/catalytic converters), Grating(Blast Furnace), Chimneys/Flues(Coal/Nuclear powered plants), Personal high pressure tanks(Underwater, underground, hazardous conditions, firefighting), Combustible Transport Tanks(Fuel tanker trucks, trains, aircraft), Explosion proof chambers(Grain silos), High temperature friction surfaces(Aircraft brakes, spacecraft brakes/surfaces, pulleys, bearings, gears)