SBIR-STTR Award

The purpose of this project is to save the lives of our fighting men and women. SOCOM will reach this objective by identifying a feasible process, which will demonstrate that extending the life of small arm weapons components and barrels is possible. Developing such product is vital because it will provide the war fighters with a reliable weapon on which they could depend in the most austere environments. Nothing is more important to our fighting men and women than reliable weapons. This project is also important because it will reduce the acquisition and life cycle costs of the weapon. Both of these goals are feasible by the use of UCTD's UltraCem coating on small arm components and barrels. UltraCem is a multi-functional coating that will (1) add hardness, (2) increase wear and abrasion resistance, (3) reduce friction, (4) enhance lubriciousness and (5) increase temperature tolerance to the base material. All of these functions combined will protect the components/barrels from the erosive forces and will extend the life of small arms.

The objective of this Phase II investigation is to optimize the coating process to apply a Nickel Boron coating on small barrel bores and develop pre-production prototypes of MK46 5.56mm Machine Gun Barrels using Ni-B coatings. The innovation proposes to address the shortcomings of the current Electroplated Hard Chrome bore coating, and is an advancement in surface finishing technology that provides a combination of wear and abrasion resistance, bond strength, friction and heat reduction, and temperature tolerance. At the completion of the development process, UCT Defense will deliver coated barrels to NAVSEA Crane for user evaluation.

Keywords:
COATING, NICKEL-BORON, BARREL COATING, BARREL LIFE EXTENSION