Elimination of Oil in Quench Hardening of Projectile Bodies.

A synthetic water based quenchant was successfully used in heat treatment of 155mm M107 projectiles. Approximately 6000 projectiles were heat treated using Houghton 251 quenchant and a production heat treating furnace. Mechanical property, magnetic particle and ballistic test results on the heat treated projectiles are reported along with toxicity and biodegradability test results performed on the quenchant. The flame, smoke and fire hazard associated with oil quenching of projectiles was eliminated using the water based quenchant.