New materials and technologies for pulsed power research and applications

Composites produced by explosive welding (bimetallic and multilayer materials) and composites with disordered structures produced by explosive compaction of powders were studied from the viewpoint of using them in railgun electrodes. Data on ablation are presented as a function of the electric current parameters. Results of metallographic and X-ray analysis of the post-shot electrode surfaces are reported. It is shown that using composite materials, it is possible to decrease the erosion of electrodes and increase the critical current density above which the erosion processes tend to increase considerably. The use of the method of explosive compaction of powders to produce high-temperature insulators and the barrels of railgun accelerators of projectiles is discussed.