Role of Surface Oxide on Gun Barrel Wear.
Abstract
Earlier analysis of gun tubes and steel nozzles exposed to propellant combustion gases showed that a tenacious oxide layer is left on the surface after firing. The thickness of the oxide layer was inversely proportional to the flame temperature of the propellant. Experiments were performed in a 37-mm blowout gun to determine whether the oxide layer influences wear. The experiments were performed with a nozzle that had been conditioned with M1, M30,M5, or M8 propellant. The results showed the oxide layer insulates the steel and reduces erosion. The wear with M8 propellant decreased as the flame temperature of the propellant used for the previous shot decreased. Conversely, the wear with M1 propellant increased as the flame temperature of the propellant from the previous shot increased. These results show the Effective Full Charge (EFC) factors determined from standard wear tests may not predict total wear when rounds with different propellants are fired in combination.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Nov 01, 1982
- Accession Number
- ADA122294
Entities
People
- B. D. Bensinger
- I. C. Stobie
- J. Richard Ward
- R. P. Kaste
Organizations
- Ballistic Research Laboratory