Evidence for the Melt-Lubrication of Projectile Bands
Abstract
Despite the long-time acceptance of melt-lubrication of rotating bands by the Army scientific community, all of the evidence supporting this conclusion has not been collected and, indeed, some has never been published. The melt-lubrication of rotating bands is very important because the sliding is lubricated and friction and wear are determined only by the characteristics of the molten film and the amount of melting at the sliding interface. Melt- lubrication results in much less resistance and much less severe wear than would otherwise be the case. Friction, wear and metallographic evidence from examination of recovered projectiles and fired cannon tubes show the melt- lubrication of projectiles sliding on a gun bore. This melt-lubrication is caused by the production of a thin surface film of molten rotating band material. Such a molten surface layer can also be produced on the surface of materials other than copper alloys contacting the bore at high bearing loads.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 1983
- Accession Number
- ADA136184
Entities
People
- R. S. Montgomery
Organizations
- United States Army Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center