Decoppering Gun Tubes Using Selective Electropolishing.
Abstract
The primary purpose of this paper is to demonstrate an alternative decoppering technique of selective electropolishing, which will enable the cleaning of copper-fouled barrels in a reasonable amount of time within a maintenance schedule. A description of the electropolishing process is elaborated upon as well as the more traditional decoppering mechanisms of Cu/Pb and Cu/Bi/Sn alloying. Metallurgical aspects of the current decoppering mechanisms are presented in the spirit of providing guidance for developing a more suitable permanent decoppering solution. Two coppered regenerative liquid propellant gun (RLPG) barrels were first star-gaged and bore-scoped to determine the baseline. Electropolishing was performed on each, after which they were star-gaged and bore-scoped to enable a comparison. Details of the process are included, and the results show that this procedure can indeed clean a copper-fouled barrel without detrimental removal of base material.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Nov 01, 1996
- Accession Number
- ADA321778
Entities
People
- Andrew W. Johnson
- Gordon L. Filbey
- Jonathan Montgomery
- Joseph W. Colburn
- Paul J. Conroy
Organizations
- United States Army Research Laboratory