Analytical Study of Lubricant-Conditioned Cu Rails and Armatures in a Low-Speed Rail Gun

An analytical study has been performed on Cu surfaces rubbed with Rulon, which is a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)-based composite, in order to explain the dramatic reduction in wear of rails and armatures conditioned with Rulon. Electron and optical spectroscopies and microscopies demonstrated that conditioned surfaces were covered by a thin PTFE film, whose thickness was estimated to be no more than 2 nm on average. None of the techniques, however, could demonstrate that the film was uniform across the smooth areas of the surface. Speculations are given to account for the enhanced bore life and antiwear antiarcing behavior of Rulon-conditioned Cu.