Evaluation of a Foreign Silicon Nitride as a Potential Gun Barrel Liner

Abstract

A silicon nitride (Si3N4) ceramic manufactured by FCT Technologie GmbH, Rauenstein, Germany was subjected to a series of tests (mechanical, physical, thermal, and erosion) to determine if this material might have potential applications as gun barrel liners. The tests conducted were similar to earlier tests performed by the U.S. Army Research Laboratory (ARL) on a variety of ceramic materials, including silicon nitride, for the same application. The erosion behavior was comparable to the previously tested ceramics but the mechanical and thermal properties were inferior making it unlikely that it would survive the interior ballistic conditions of a gun barrel.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Apr 01, 2010
Accession Number
ADA518417

Entities

People

  • Charles Leveritt
  • Dominic Danna
  • Jeffrey J. Swab
  • Stephanie Piraino

Organizations

  • United States Army Research Laboratory

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Advanced Electronics
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Ceramic Materials
  • Equations
  • Gun Barrel Liners
  • Gun Barrels
  • Guns
  • Materials
  • Materials Laboratories
  • Materials Testing
  • Mechanical Properties
  • Military Research
  • O Rings
  • Silicon Carbide
  • Tensile Strength
  • Test And Evaluation
  • Test Methods
  • Thermal Properties
  • Toughness

Readers

  • European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP).
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  • ballistics.