NationStates Jolt Archive

Thirtycaliber News Service:


GARAND CITY - Earlier today, Defense Secretary Roger Apfelsine announced at a press conference the selection of the Kreiger Forge Co. of Neubaum as the winner of a new military steel contract. The contract calls for the development and testing of a new specialized steel alloy, designed to meet somewhat confusing specifications. The metal is to have the lowest possible dynamic friction coefficient, and maintain at least 170% of the strength of 4140 steel at temperatures exceeding 5000 degrees Fahrenheit. Also, the alloy must have a relative hardness of at least 8.5. So far, no explainations have been offered as to why the specifications have been laid out as they have, and military analysts are baffled. Certain analysts with no particular qualifications are already crying foul, calling this merely another in a long line of military blunders. However, Apfelsine did make a single comment which may afford insight into the nature of the new contract.

"The Department of Defense is confident that the Kreiger Forge Co. will meet and exceed all of the terms of their contract, and more than fulfill their role as a contractor in the SPITZER program."

After an enhanced LEXIS/NEXUS search was performed, it has been confirmed that no previous mention of this program by any private citizen or government official exists. Later in the press conference, Apfelsine would neither confirm nor deny the existence of the program. We'll keep you updated with the latest information as this story breaks.

Five thousand degrees Fahrenheit? You can't be using much iron in it, as iron would have become a vapour at around that temperature. Just about any element would be either a liquid or a gas at that temperature, unless under extreme pressure.

Five thousand degrees Fahrenheit? You can't be using much iron in it, as iron would have become a vapour at around that temperature. Just about any element would be either a liquid or a gas at that temperature, unless under extreme pressure.

OOC: Actually, iron is only molten at that point.

Honestly, haven't you ever made Thermite?

OOC:

I'm still not sure exactly how I'm going to pull this off. Remember, the goals in the IC post are just that - project goals. They may or may not be met in full or in part. As for the alloy itself, I'm thinking possibly some sort of iron/carbon/manganese/tungsten alloy, and creating a proprietary process to force the atoms to form network bonds to provide the required hardness while maintaining the required toughness (4140 isn't exactly a weak steel alloy - it's often used in gun barrels *hint*). The minimal dynamic friction coefficient will probably be the goal that has to be sacrificed the most, as I know brass has a low DFC and isn't exactly a strong allow. Any metallurgy experts in the crowd willing to give some ideas?

OOC:

(4140 isn't exactly a weak steel alloy - it's often used in gun barrels *hint*).

hmm... so, when is this stuff gonna be for sale????(the holy saints, just in a puppet) i mean, the entire thing, not just the metal.

OOC:

Well, I'm going to RP out development of each component, so probably RL ~ 2-3 weeks for the whole thing. However, individual components may be available before then.

but do gun barrels need to have tensile strength > 4140???

My first thought when i read this was some sort of engine or turbine 8)

OOC:

but do gun barrels need to have tensile strength > 4140???

My first thought when i read this was some sort of engine or turbine


I believe you misunderstand. 4140 isn't any specific measurement of strength, but rather the numeric code referring to a specific alloy of steel, which happens to be commonly used in gun barrels. Alloys commonly used in the receivers of firearms include 8260 and 5100. All of the numbers in the numeric code for a specific steel alloy stand for something (IIRC, the '5' in 5100 steel means that the primary ingredient besides iron & carbon is manganese, and the '100' specifies what percentage is Mn by weight). It gets really screwy when you talk about stainless steels & the like.

OOC:

but do gun barrels need to have tensile strength > 4140???

My first thought when i read this was some sort of engine or turbine


I believe you misunderstand. 4140 isn't any specific measurement of strength, but rather the numeric code referring to a specific alloy of steel, which happens to be commonly used in gun barrels. Alloys commonly used in the receivers of firearms include 8260 and 5100. All of the numbers in the numeric code for a specific steel alloy stand for something (IIRC, the '5' in 5100 steel means that the primary ingredient besides iron & carbon is manganese, and the '100' specifies what percentage is Mn by weight). It gets really screwy when you talk about stainless steels & the like.

yes, I'm familiar with 4140 steel, and I've used it for automotive applications. It's very hard and very strong as far as alloys used in cars go. I didn't know a gun barrel would need to have 170% the strength of 4140

OOC:

Here's ahint, Bender. A shoulder fired infantry gun wouldn't need anywhere near that strength. However, if a gun were not shoulder fired, and rather, let's say, anchored in the ground and typically fired with the barrel elevated >15 degrees... :D

Five thousand degrees Fahrenheit? You can't be using much iron in it, as iron would have become a vapour at around that temperature. Just about any element would be either a liquid or a gas at that temperature, unless under extreme pressure.

OOC: Actually, iron is only molten at that point.

Honestly, haven't you ever made Thermite?

Perhaps I was mistaking it for five thousand degrees Celsius, which is almost the temperature of the surface of the Sun.