Sapphire guns? Don't think sapphire is usable for making gun barrels or the gun itself, it's too brittle. However you could lined the gun barrels with artificial sapphire or diamond to increase weapon lifespan and reduce maintenance. The current propellants use in ammunition is highly corrosive and hard to clean off. Remember reading in some SF anthology in the early 90s speculating on artificial crystal lined gun barrels (think is a Jerry Pournelle edited book).
You still need metallic bullets but not necessarily the cartridge casings.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
mmmag
Re: Just when I thought it was safe to fly again
Date: 2009-03-26 07:02 pm (UTC)Sapphire guns? Don't think sapphire is usable for making gun barrels or the gun itself, it's too brittle. However you could lined the gun barrels with artificial sapphire or diamond to increase weapon lifespan and reduce maintenance. The current propellants use in ammunition is highly corrosive and hard to clean off. Remember reading in some SF anthology in the early 90s speculating on artificial crystal lined gun barrels (think is a Jerry Pournelle edited book).
You still need metallic bullets but not necessarily the cartridge casings.