Method and device for producing a tubular solid body from a refractory tungsten heavy metal alloy, particularly as a semi-finished product for the production of a penetrator for a kinetic energy projectile with fragmentation effect

Abstract

The invention relates to a filler device ( 1 ) comprising an exterior tube ( 2 ) having an extrusion die ( 3 ) located therein and a filler piece ( 4 ) that is filled with a metal powder mixture in the intermediate space ( 8 ) formed between the filler piece ( 4 ) and the extrusion die ( 3 ), whereupon the intermediate space is closed. In order to compact the metal powder, the filler device ( 1 ) is placed in a hydrostatic pressing system and the metal powder mixture is pressed into a green preform. The pressed tubes are subsequently sintered in one or more passes through a furnace, for which purpose the pressed tubes are subjected to a preselected time/temperature progression so as to ensure that a melt of tungsten (W) forms and contracts evenly in all directions so that a geometrically desired solid body results after sintering.

1 . A method for producing a tubular solid body, particularly for producing a penetrator for a kinetic energy projectile with fragmentation effect, wherein the method includes the steps of:
 (a) filling a filler device, wherein the filler device comprises an outer tube provided with an extrusion die situated therein as well as a filler piece, with a metal powder mixture in an intermediate space formed between the filler piece and the extrusion die, and then closing the extrusion die;   (b) in order to compact the metal powder mixture, placing the filler device ( 1 ) in a hydrostatic pressing system and pressing the metal powder to produce a green perform; and   (c) subsequently sintering the pressed tubes in one or more passes through a furnace, for which purpose the pressed tubes are subjected to a preselected time/temperature progression so as to ensure that a melt forms and contracts evenly in all directions, so that after sintering a geometrically desired solid body results.   
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein, after sintering, the solid body is subjected to a heat treatment, through which tensile strength and elongation at break are adjusted. 
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 2 , wherein, after the heat treatment, the solid body is subjected to a forging process, through which flow point and tensile strength increase. 
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the filler device is filled with the metal powder mixture via a filler tube that is placed on the filler piece and enables a filling between the filler piece and the extrusion die. 
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the filler tube is removed after filling of the filler device. 
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the intermediate space is closed by a plug. 
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the metal powder mixture comprises a tungsten heavy metal alloy with 80-98%, by weight, tungsten and at least one second component selected from the group consisting of Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Mo, and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         8 . A filler device for the production of a tubular solid body, in particular, a penetrator for a kinetic energy projectile with fragmentation effect, wherein the filler device comprises:
 (a) an outer tube in which an extrusion die and a filler piece are attached concentrically; and   (b) a filler tube placed on the filler piece for filling an intermediate space, formed between the extrusion die and the filler piece, with a metal powder mixture.   
     
     
         9 . A filler device according to  claim 8 , wherein the outer tube is a steel tube and the extrusion die is a polyurethane tube. 
     
     
         10 . A method according to  claim 2 , wherein the filler device is filled with the metal powder mixture via a filler tube that is placed on the filler piece and enables a filling between the filler piece and the extrusion die. 
     
     
         11 . A method according to  claim 3 , wherein the filler device is filled with the metal powder mixture via a filler tube that is placed on the filler piece and enables a filling between the filler piece and the extrusion die. 
     
     
         12 . A method according to  claim 2 , wherein the filler tube is removed after filling of the filler device. 
     
     
         13 . A method according to  claim 3 , wherein the filler tube is removed after filling of the filler device. 
     
     
         14 . A method according to  claim 4 , wherein the filler tube is removed after filling of the filler device. 
     
     
         15 . A method according to  claim 10 , wherein the filler tube is removed after filling of the filler device. 
     
     
         16 . A method according to  claim 11 , wherein the filler tube is removed after filling of the filler device.