Explosive Barrel Cladding

Explosive cladding is a cold-welding process for similar or dissimilar metals and alloys that produces a strong metallurgical bond and small interface. TPL 's Explosive Barrel Cladding development program used recovered/recycled energetic materials to explosively clad Tantalum (Ta) and its alloys to the interior bore of gun barrels to extend their service tube life. In Government tests using the 25mm M242 Bushmaster and developmental M919 ammunition, TPL's clad barrels demonstrated a six to ten fold improvement in resisting bore erosion. The baseline steel barrels were condemned after firing 229 rounds. TPL's Ta-clad barrels were still serviceable when the APG test range ran out of ammunition after 1385 rounds. Other potential military weapon applications include longer range howitzer and tank barrels, medium multi-barrel Gatling and chain gun systems, electro-thermal gun systems, and rail guns.

High Temperature Barrel: Below is a photo of a 5.56mm explosively clad M249 Squad Automatic Weapon (SAW) Barrel that was successfully proof fired. The barrel is low alloy steel and the bonded liner is a tantalum alloy.

The thick tantalum alloy liner, metallurgically bonded to the bore surface, will mitigate wear, heat, corrosion, and hot gas erosion. The tantalum alloy liner welded in place by explosive cladding is 0.5-2.5 mm thick (0.020-0.10”), well in excess of the 0.125 mm thick chrome layer it is replacing and the 0.01-0.1 mm thick coating that may be deposited by sputtering. This increased thickness allows the liner to act like an insulator, thereby permitting greater rates of fire without pushing the barrel steel past its transition temperature. Thermal modeling conducted by ARDEC in collaboration with TPL’s Army MANTECH program showed this insulating effect. TPL recently demonstrated its Barrel Armor technology in small caliber barrels (.223/5.56mm, .30/7.62mm and .50 cal). By redesigning its engineering process, TPL showed the ability to clad, with a metallurgical bond, refractory liners to steel or aluminum barrels a 5.56mm, M249 Squad Automatic Weapon barrel that was clad, machined and proof fired.

Lightweight Barrel: Photograph of an explosively clad rifle barrel. The barrel is aluminum and the bonded liner is low alloy gun barrel steel. The aluminum bull barrel weighs less than its similar all-steel counterpart with a sporter profile.

The barrel is the largest, heaviest component of a rifle. Accuracy would significantly benefit from reduction in barrel weight. TPL can offer a barrel weight reduction of 30-50%. Consequently, a 13 lb rifle could be reduced to about 10-11 lbs.

Heat destroys the accuracy of rifles via throat erosion of the chamber to degradation of barrel rifling. TPL offers better thermal conductivity of the heat, away from the barrel chamber and bore. Gas cutting action is reduced. Weapon longevity is enhanced and the cooling period between shots is reduced.

Rifle barrels are the heaviest single part of small arms; reducing their weight will significantly reduce the weight of the rifle

Reduced weight of sniper and patrol rifles carried by soldiers/police

Lightweight barrels can be used by any soldier, from patrol rifles and SAWs to sniper weapon systems

Explosive Cladding Quote

TPL, Inc. has the capability to Explosively Clad a variety of metals in a number of different shapes and sizes.
Please provide your specifications for an accurate quote.

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