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Rifles, Reloading, Optics, Equipment
Rifles, Bullets, Barrels & Ballistics
Why use a carbon wrapped barel?
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<blockquote data-quote="One Hole" data-source="post: 2071631" data-attributes="member: 90934"><p>This is an interesting and relevant debate! Some science/fact sprinkled in with a lot of opinion and heresy. I have been weighing the pros and cons of fluted stainless and carbon fiber wrapped for my next mountain rifle.</p><p></p><p>As an aerospace mechanical engineer and metallic and composite part manufacturer for 30+ years I have seen the transition of many aircraft parts from aluminum to carbon fiber. I have made many of these trade studies myself. Sometimes CF parts are better suited sometimes they are not. Rather than throw out a carte blanche recommendation I will offer a few of my primary concerns with CF. </p><p></p><p>Coefficient of Thermal Expansion (CTE) mismatch:. Different materials exhibit different CTEs. When you bond carbon fiber composite to steel the two materials expand and contract at different rates. This creates a lot of stress at the bond joint and can lead to adhesive failure (delamination). This would be most likely to occur where the temperature difference is highest (chamber end).</p><p></p><p>Contamination:. Composite manufacturing is very subject to contamination. Modern composite processing is labor intensive and usually involves extended cures at elevated temperature and often pressure or vacuum. Foreign material, including moisture, is difficult to control and can disturb the carbon fiber - epoxy bond. These internal defects can propagate over time. My concern is that a lot can go wrong and it's easy to cheat to save manufacturing cost.</p><p></p><p>Environmental Susceptibility: it is well established that many epoxy resins are susceptible to moisture, UV light and various chemicals. Most aerospace parts receive advanced primers and coatings to protect against these. </p><p></p><p>These are some of my primary concerns and things I will want to discuss with barrel manufacturer's.</p><p> </p><p>As far as weight my calculations show that a straight fluted light contour stainless barrel can be made as light as the common profile carbon wrapped barrels.</p><p></p><p>As far as heat transfer, there's no magic. If the thermal conductivity of steel is higher than that of the net, in axis thermal conductivity of the steel-carbon-epoxy assembly, then the steel barrel will transfer heat better. Comparing the perceived touch temperature of two surfaces is not a valid measure of thermal conductivity. </p><p></p><p>As far as harmonics, the natural frequency of part/system increases with stiffness and decreases with mass/weight. So for steel and CF wrapped barrels of equal weight, the stiffer barrel will have a higher natural frequency. </p><p></p><p>Hope this helps you make an informed decision! I still haven't decided which way I am going. I have some concerns with steel too.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="One Hole, post: 2071631, member: 90934"] This is an interesting and relevant debate! Some science/fact sprinkled in with a lot of opinion and heresy. I have been weighing the pros and cons of fluted stainless and carbon fiber wrapped for my next mountain rifle. As an aerospace mechanical engineer and metallic and composite part manufacturer for 30+ years I have seen the transition of many aircraft parts from aluminum to carbon fiber. I have made many of these trade studies myself. Sometimes CF parts are better suited sometimes they are not. Rather than throw out a carte blanche recommendation I will offer a few of my primary concerns with CF. Coefficient of Thermal Expansion (CTE) mismatch:. Different materials exhibit different CTEs. When you bond carbon fiber composite to steel the two materials expand and contract at different rates. This creates a lot of stress at the bond joint and can lead to adhesive failure (delamination). This would be most likely to occur where the temperature difference is highest (chamber end). Contamination:. Composite manufacturing is very subject to contamination. Modern composite processing is labor intensive and usually involves extended cures at elevated temperature and often pressure or vacuum. Foreign material, including moisture, is difficult to control and can disturb the carbon fiber - epoxy bond. These internal defects can propagate over time. My concern is that a lot can go wrong and it's easy to cheat to save manufacturing cost. Environmental Susceptibility: it is well established that many epoxy resins are susceptible to moisture, UV light and various chemicals. Most aerospace parts receive advanced primers and coatings to protect against these. These are some of my primary concerns and things I will want to discuss with barrel manufacturer's. As far as weight my calculations show that a straight fluted light contour stainless barrel can be made as light as the common profile carbon wrapped barrels. As far as heat transfer, there's no magic. If the thermal conductivity of steel is higher than that of the net, in axis thermal conductivity of the steel-carbon-epoxy assembly, then the steel barrel will transfer heat better. Comparing the perceived touch temperature of two surfaces is not a valid measure of thermal conductivity. As far as harmonics, the natural frequency of part/system increases with stiffness and decreases with mass/weight. So for steel and CF wrapped barrels of equal weight, the stiffer barrel will have a higher natural frequency. Hope this helps you make an informed decision! I still haven't decided which way I am going. I have some concerns with steel too. [/QUOTE]
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Why use a carbon wrapped barel?
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