Abstract: A muzzle-loading firearm includes a breech plug for mating, non-threaded engagement with a housing located at the breech end of an axial bore of the firearm barrel. The breech plug includes a body member having opposite first and second ends and an outer surface between the ends and configured so that when the breech plug is positioned within the housing, the outer surface is spaced close to the inside surface of the housing to facilitate insertion and removal of the breech plug from the housing. The body member is formed with a passageway for fluidly communicating ignition with a powder charge at the second end when the firearm is loaded. The ignition source (primer or percussion cap) can be inserted directly to a chamber in the first end of the body member or alternatively, to a chamber in the breech area of the firearm itself where that chamber fluidly communicates with the passageway at the first end of the body member.

Abstract: A muzzle-loading firearm includes a breech plug for mating, non-threaded engagement with a housing located at the breech end of an axial bore of the firearm barrel. The plug includes a cylindrically-shaped body member having opposite first and second ends and an outer surface between the ends and configured so that when the plug is positioned within the housing, the outer surface is spaced close to the inside surface of the housing to facilitate insertion and removal of the plug from the housing. The body member is formed with a primer chamber for receiving and retaining a primer or a percussion cap at the first end, and a passageway for fluidly communicating the primer chamber with a powder charge at the second end. The body member may have a powder chamber for receiving and retaining at least part of a powder charge at the second end when the firearm is loaded.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of substantially polycrystalline silicon carbide fibers is provided. The fibers may be fabricated to have a small diameter and are thermally stable at high temperatures. The process is carried out by initially forming fibers from a preceramic polymeric precursor comprising methylpolydisilylazane resins. The fibers are then infusibilized to render them nonmelting followed by a pyrolysis step in which the fibers are heated to a temperature in excess of 1600.degree. C. in a nonoxidizing atmosphere to form substantially polycrystalline silicon carbide fibers. The substantially polycrystalline silicon carbide fibers which are formed by the process of the present invention have at least 75% crystallinity and have a density of at least about 2.9 gm/cc.The polymeric precursor or the fibers contain, or have incorporated therein, at least about 0.2% by weight boron.

Abstract: This invention relates to the preparation of thermally stable, substantially polycrystalline silicon carbide ceramic fibers derived from a polycarbosilane resin. The unexpected thermal stability of these fibers is achieved by the incorporation of boron prior to ceramification.

Abstract: This invention relates to the preparation of thermally stable, substantially polycrystalline silicon carbide ceramic fibers derived from a polycarbosilane resin. The unexpected thermal stability of these fibers is achieved by the incorporation of boron prior to ceramification.