Boron Carbide Aluminum Cermets for External Pressure Housing Applications
Abstract
B4C/Al ceramic composites have been found to be excellent candidates for pressure housing applications for use in deep submergence underwater vehicles. These materials have the compressive strengths of a ceramic material but a lower weight/displacement ratio and can be produced in near-net shape. A methodology has been developed in The Dow Chemical Company to form large parts of this material. Nine B4C/Al cylinders with 6-inch diameters and lengths of up to 9 inches were produced in the first phase of the program for development of pressure housing for underwater vehicles. The pressure housing tests showed that the compressive strength of this material in the form of 6-inch diameter by 5- inch-long cylinders was in excess of 300 kpsi. The weight to displacement of cylinders equipped with titanium joint rings for 9000-psi service with safety factor of 2.2 was found to be 0.365, a 27-percent improvement over alumina cylinders with identical dimensions and safety factors. When B4C/Al cylinders are compared to titanium alloy Ti6Al4Va cylinders for 9000-psi service with identical safety factor, the titanium cylinders are found to be 256 percent heavier.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 1992
- Accession Number
- ADA262749
Entities
People
- A. Prunier
- A. Pyzik
- David L. Carroll
- J. D. Stachiw
- Theodore Allen
Organizations
- Naval Command, Control and Ocean Surveillance Center