LIGHTWEIGHT NON-METALLIC HIGH PERFORMANCE GUN BARRELS

THE LIMITATIONS OF STEEL (WEIGHT, EROSION, CORROSION, WEAR, AND DEPENDENCE ON STRATEGIC ALLOYING ELEMENTS) HAVE INHIBITED THE DEVELOPMENT OF EXTREMELY HIGH PERFORMANCE MILITARY GUN BARRELS. OF THE MANY METALLIC AND NONMETALLIC ALTERNATIVES TO STEEL, ONLY CERAMICS ENJOY INTRINSIC IMMUNITY TO ALL FIVE LIMITATIONS. HOWEVER, CONVENTIONAL (MONOLITHIC) CERAMICS LACK THE TOUGHNESS REQUIRED OF A GUN BARREL MATERIAL. THE PROPOSED PHASE I EFFORT INVOLVES THE DESIGN, FABRICATION, AND TESTING OF CERAMIC BARREL LINERS TOUGHENED BY THE INCLUSION OF RANDOMLY ORIENTED "WHISKERS." THE LINERS WILL BE FURTHERREINFORCED BY EXTERNAL WRAPPINGS OF CONTINUOUS FIBERS IN A SUITABLE MATRIX. MEANS FOR EXTERNAL COOLING WILL BE DEVELOPED. THE OBJECTIVE IS TO CREATE A GUN BARREL MUCH LIGHTER THAN, AND POTENTIALLY SUPERIOR TO, STEEL BARRELS, AND WHICH CAN WITHSTAND HIGHER RATES OF FIRE SUSTAINED PERIODS.