Jamshedpur, Nov. 25: Here?s a scientific innovation to add a spring to any realtor?s step.

The National Metallurgical Laboratory (NML), a wing of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), has recently made a breakthrough by developing geo-polymer tiles, a cost-effective variant made of fly-ash, a residue of thermal power plants.

Elaborating on the new technology, NML director S.P. Mehrotra said here today the geo-polymer tiles combine geo-polymer cement and fly-ash, with the latter comprising 95 per cent of it.

According to Mehrotra, their latest innovation can be manufactured even at room temperature, unlike the conventional ones, which require about 900?C.

That, in effect, considerably brings down the cost of production.

?The success of our latest innovation lies in the fact that it meets all necessary specifications of the European Nation for wall tiles and has the viability of commercial production as well,? he said, adding that they will soon apply for national and international patents for the technique.

Mehrotra further informed that the Indo-Russian joint council of Integrated Long Term Programme has recently approved a proposal for setting up a research centre for non-ferrous and rare metals at NML.

Seventeen Russian institutions are expected to participate in the venture.

In yet another scientific breakthrough, NML has developed the real time process simulator to maximise the production efficiency of blast furnaces in steel companies.

The new technology, developed in collaboration with the IITs, Tata Steel and Bokaro Steel Plant will ensure a capacity enhancement for blast furnaces in the country by about 15 per cent, Mehrotra added.

Union steel ministry has granted Rs 15 crore from the steel development fund to NML for undertaking the project, which is expected to be completed by December 31 this year.

Besides, based on its credentials, the Sardar Sarovar Nigam Limited has also acknowledged NML for its endeavour in assessing and evaluating steel rebars in their construction work, Mehrotra said.

Mehrotra also informed that the International-India section of the National Association of Corrosion Engineers (USA) has recently recognised and awarded NML as the best corrosion research laboratory in the country.

The award was given for excellence in corrosion science and engineering mainly for developing life predictive methodologies for airframe structures.