Polymers for weapons?

[polymernoob]

Hey guys,
first off im not a chemical or materials engineer. I am just a guy in need of some information and i did not know where else to look. If i am in the wrong thread or even website, forgive me and feel free to redirect me.

I have built plenty of traditional AR's, but now it is time for a something new.

After i acquire my FFL, i am looking to develop a full polymer AR15 lower receiver to begin my polymer AR15 build.

Here is where i feel lost in a world of plastics.

I understand companies like Glock use Nylon6 for their modular pistols.

Here are my questions.
From expert opinion,
what would the best polymer or composite material be for the use in a firearm.

-is nylon 6 something to look into?
WHAT HAS?
-high tensile strength
-high stiffness
-high fracture toughness
-high abrasion, puncture, and corrosive resistance
-and most importantly, is lightweight

the material needs to withstand vibration
(heat is not an issue with a lower receiver)

i understand things like excessive UV exposure can break down certain polymers. (should i be weary about environmental exposures?)

When using a given material,
-can it only be formed in a mold?
-can it be machined like a block of aluminum?

What is the process for handling a polymer material?
-melting?
-forming?
-molding?

Is there any important information about polymer materials i need to be aware of before i embark on this endeavor?

any info will be greatly appreciated.

 

[patprimmer]

So you want me to give you about 2 years worth of full time training for free?
Best shot at it within reason. Pun intended.

First off do not use non plastics related acronyms or jargon. We are not firearms specialists here.

I understand companies like Glock use Nylon6 for their modular pistols.

Here are my questions.
From expert opinion,
what would the best polymer or composite material be for the use in a firearm.

-is nylon 6 something to look into? Well Glock use it
WHAT HAS?
-high tensile strength
-high stiffness
-high fracture toughness
-high abrasion, puncture, and corrosive resistance
-and most importantly, is lightweight

these are all relative with no reference as to compared to what

the material needs to withstand vibration
(heat is not an issue with a lower receiver)

i understand things like excessive UV exposure can break down certain polymers. (should i be weary about environmental exposures?) Of course. The particular aspects depends largely on the polymer being considered

When using a given material,
-can it only be formed in a mold?
-can it be machined like a block of aluminum?

Seriously. Did you even think about this question for a millisecond. Look up the traditional meaning of the word plastic

What is the process for handling a polymer material?
-melting?
-forming?
-molding?

Again
Seriously. Did you even think about this question for a millisecond. Look up the traditional meaning of the word plastic Oh, and thermoplastic this time as well


Is there any important information about polymer materials i need to be aware of before i embark on this endeavor?

and yet again
Seriously. Did you even think about this question for a millisecond. The alternative is to rush in without a clue, so what do you think

I am sorry if I sound negative, but you basically just rushed in and asked me to write a very long text book for free. You have shown minimal consideration of the questions you asked as some answers are blatantly obvious at least at the first level.

Regards
Pat
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[cloa]

I agree but if he could define the corrosion resistance- to what environment I am sure someone could pick a plastic for him to start with and a few books.

 

[patprimmer]

I think there is a lot more to it than corrosion resistance.

Styer also used a fair bit of plastic in their rifle at one stage.

I believe even Remington had a model called the Remington Nylon because of the nylon used in its manufacture.

Different components might require different materials.

Different designs might require different materials.

Different environments might require different materials.

Different performance sprcs or expectations might require different materials



Regards
Pat
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for site rules

 

[JavaMoose]

I used to work for Bushmaster Firearms. They make a carbon-composite AR-15 (Upper an Lower) that we injection molded on site. It is made from off the shelf carbon fiber pellets designed specifically for injection molding.


A note of caution, before you just go off and pick a material to make an AR from, know that even with decades of r&d that every so often one of our carbon AR-15 uppers will fail...catastrophically.

 

[patprimmer]

What'sw an AR. We are plastics experts, not firearms experts

Regards
Pat
See FAQ731-376 for tips on use of eng-tips by professional engineers &

http://eng-tips.com/market.cfm

for site rules

 

[IRstuff]

presumably, an AR-15, the consumer version of the M-16

TTFN
faq731-376

 

[ornerynorsk]

I have a fair bit of firearms experience, in both gunsmithing and building from scratch. Not assembling parts but actually making the parts.

What is the primary goal you are trying to achieve? Weight reduction, resistance to metallic detection?

In my honest opinion, composites and synthetic materials have no place as the critical components of any firearm, barring those used for clandestine purposes. Even a lower receiver, which doesn't experience the full result of pressure containment, is still subject to shock and impact.

The carbon fiber filled material (polyamide???) that JavaMoose mentioned is probably one of the few materials worth considering. I had always though that I'd like to try one out of Ultem, as well, but really, it would be very difficult to improve upon forged 7075 aluminum, all material properties considered.

If one wants to make it an academic exercise just to say you did it, you've got a lot of research to do. You cannot rely on "5 minute advice" from a forum, even though some of the plastics guys in Eng-Tips are the best you'll find anywhere.

It is better to have enough ideas for some of them to be wrong, than to be always right by having no ideas at all.

 

[innovatemilestones]

i second ornerynorsk...

This would require some more research and your reasoning is not very clear as to what the desired result is. PTFE coatings can be designed to create a self cleaning agent and provide durability; however, on a firearm where failure can be catastrophic and potentially deadly... I would browse something else close to your desired result. Cheers

 

[TomDOT]

The "carbon fiber" pellets are leading in the right direction - a reinforced plastic composite is needed, not a plastic.