ELECTRODEPOSITION OF HARD CHROMIUM ON THE INTERIOR SURFACE OF INFANTRY RIFLE BARRELS: AN EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION
Abstract
The objective of this study was to enhance the properties of the inner surface of a rifle barrel. The substrate utilized in this investigation was produced through the cold forging technique using 42CrMo4 material, measuring 260 mm in length and 5.56 mm in diameter. Electrolytic hard chromium plating was employed to create a durable metal layer on the inner surface of the substrate. A peristaltic pump was utilized to eliminate gases, such as hydrogen and oxygen, which evolved at the cathode and anode during the process. An anode material comprising a steel rod coated with a 93% Pb-7% Sn alloy, possessing a diameter of 2.35 mm, was employed in the coating experiments. Vickers hardness testing was performed to measure the hardness of both the substrate and the coating layer. The coating thickness ranged approximately between 23 µm to 30 µm. Hardness analysis conducted at various points indicated a proportional decline in coating microhardness with increasing coating thickness. Following the electrolytic hard chrome plating process, the inner surface hardness of the barrel reached approximately 1143 HV0.025.
Keywords
Barrel, Electroplating, Hard Chromium, Surface Coating, Steel
Supporting Institution
Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TÜBİTAK) and Karadeniz Technical University Scientific Research Coordination Unit and Trabzon Arms Industry
Project Number
TÜBİTAK Project Number:119C073 and Karadeniz Technical University Scientific Research Coordination Unit:FSI-2022-10089
Thanks
This study has been completed with the support provided by the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TÜBİTAK) within the scope of the 2244 Industry-Academy cooperation program numbered 119C073, by the Karadeniz Technical University Scientific Research Coordination Unit within the scope of FSI-2022-10089 research project and Trabzon Arms Industry (TİSAŞ). The authors would like to thank TÜBİTAK, Karadeniz Technical University Scientific Research Coordination Unit and Trabzon Arms Industry for their support.
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