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AssigneeMaterials & Electrochemical Research Corp.
InventorsJames C. Withers, Lori A. Bracamonte, Roger S. Storm, Sion M. Pickard, Raouf O. Loutfy
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A fabrication technique is described for producing lighter weight and improved wear and erosion resistant gun barrels. The barrels are produced in an unconventional manner from the inside bore to the outside diameter of the barrel and combine a refractory metal, metal alloy, or ceramic composite inner liner with a metal matrix composite (MMC) or titanium or other suitable high strength, lightweight metal or metal alloy outer shell. A unique aspect of the invention is that there is a compositional gradation from the liner at the inside bore to the overwrap which extends to the outside diameter of the barrel. A process is also described to produce barrels with a refractory metal liner with improved wear and erosion resistance by depositing the refractory metal on the ID of a pre-fabricated barrel.
A high strength heat and wear resistant tube comprising an outer shell lined with a ceramic matrix composite material, wherein the ceramic matrix composite material consists of aligned carbon, graphite, or silicon carbide fibers;
A firearm barrel comprising an outer tube having a wear and heat resistant liner, wherein the wear resistant liner consists of a formed in-situ material which is graded in composition from a lower porosity at the bore to a higher porosity at the outer diameter.
A firearm barrel comprising an outer tube having a wear and heat resistant liner, wherein the wear resistant liner comprises a ceramic matrix composite having a bore with rifling formed in-situ and wherein the ceramic matrix composite material consists of aligned carbon, graphite, or silicon carbide fibers.
A high strength heat and wear resistant tube comprising an outer shell lined with a ceramic matrix composite material wherein the ceramic matrix composite material consists of aligned carbon, graphite, or silicon carbide fibers, a refractory metal, a refracting metal alloy or a refractory metal cermet, having a metal matrix composite overwrap.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.