Applications of the Radioisotope Wear Measurement Technique
Abstract
Erosive wear has been measured from gun steel surfaces by detecting the loss of the radioisotope 56 Co which has been introduced into the surface layers. The 56 Co activity is produced by means of the 56 Fe(p,n) 56 Co reaction when the steel is bombarded by a beam of protons. A detailed calibration curve, relating the amount of 56 Co activity to the amount of surface material worn off, has been measured and is applicable to all steel surfaces. This method has a precision of + or - 0.1 micrometers, can be performed in a short time, in- situ, and without surface cleaning. Three experiments in which this method has been used are discussed. In the first, a land on a 20 mm barrel was activated and the wear measured under several different firing conditions. In the second, wear was measured from an activated plug inserted into a land of the 20 mm barrel. In the third, steel erosion nozzles were exposed to several different propellants and wear losses as well as mass losses were measured. The correlation between the two methods is very good. Possible applications of this method to a variety of wear measurement experiments are discussed.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 1978
- Accession Number
- ADA058307
Entities
People
- A. Niiler
- R. Birkmire
Organizations
- Ballistic Research Laboratory