31. Jan 2019

Andaltec and Biobullet working on bullets made of biodegradable metal-additised plastic

Andaltec and Biobullet working on bullets made of biodegradable metal-additised plastic

The Technological Centre for Plastics (Andaltec) in Spain is currently carrying out a joint project with the company Biobullet in order to develop projectiles manufactured in biodegradable plastic and charged with metallic components.

nThese bullets will be very similar in size and weight to the regular metallic ones. The new biodegradable ammunition will be wholly compatible for use in regular weapons.

Researchers from Andaltec are also working on the correct self-loading of the weapon when using this type of bullets. The final goal is the development of short-weapon 9mm projectiles, manufactured with a biodegradable polymeric matrix with metal-charged additives in order to achieve the ideal density requested by Biobullet. This project is intended to develop and introduce into the market projectiles for military training. The advantages are twofold: on the one hand, this is a more sustainable product, as it will decompose and not pollute the training field. On the other hand, they are safer in use, as these plastic bullets cause less harm, avoiding for the most part the severe wounds or fatal accidents that sometimes occur during military training.

“Andaltec is faced with a complex research labour, considering that all the customer’s needs must be satisfied as for compatibility between projectile and weapon regarding size, weight or operation temperature”, as María Ángeles Pancorbo, Head of this Project on behalf of the Technological Centre, states

Andaltec is currently working to define the metal charge and the biodegradable polymer, bullet design, percentage of added charge, characterisation of the proper material and part manufacture for validation. This project is not the first joint venture between the technological centre and Biobullet, since they previously worked together in the development of prototypes for cartridges composed of biodegradable plastics. Andaltec took also part in a successful R&D project to create biodegradable airsoft bullets. This is a more sustainable product which does not pollute or spoil the playing area where this sport is usually practiced.

Andaltec is a National Technological Centre, supported by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness.


http://www.andaltec.org

Privacy policy notice

This website uses external components, such as Fonts, maps, videos or analysis tools that can all be used to collect data about your behavior. Privacy policy