Patent ID: 7191558

Claim:
A method for enhancing the wear life of a steel surface of a bore or a barrel of a gun, the method comprising the steps of: providing a nitrogen content propellant, the propellant generating, upon combustion, a propellant gas which includes at least 20% by mole fraction of nitrogen, wherein the mole fraction ratio of CO to CO 2 in the propellant gas is greater than 3.0, and the mole fraction ratio of nitrogen to CO in the propellant gas is at least 0.65; igniting the propellant in the gun to cause the propellant to combust and generate the propellant gas; and directing the propellant gas into the bore of the gun barrel and the nitrogen in the propellant gas reacts with the steel surface to form an iron nitride, wherein the atomic percentage of nitrogen in the iron nitride is greater than 0 but less than or equal to 20% of the iron nitride and the melting point of the iron nitride is greater than 1600° K.