Medium Caliber Gun Barrel Bore Coatings

The proposed Phase I SBIR program will demonstrate a cost-effective chrome replacement solution to medium-caliber gun barrel wear and erosion through the demonstration of an environmentally friendly, low cost refractory metal alloy plating process. This solution will reduce life cycle costs for medium caliber gun systems by up to 50%, while potentially reducing barrel replacement logistics by 80%. In addition, the process eliminates the use of hexavalent chrome. The M242, 25-mm machine gun is the main armament on the M2A2/M3A2 Bradley Fighting Vehicles. This weapon system saw its first major combat role during the Persian Gulf War. With the introduction of the 910 series of ammunition the effective life of the M242 gun barrel dropped from 8,000 rounds to about 4,000 rounds in the standard chrome plated barrel (PN 12524520). This program will complete the development of a low temperature vacuum deposition process for applying uncracked, refractory metal coatings to gun tubes. Methods for optimizing coating adhesion and durabilty will be developed.