File picture of a missile

Bhubaneswar, May 11: The National Aluminium Company Limited (Nalco) is mooting an idea to produce an aluminium-based composite material that can be used in production of missiles by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

Sources at the research and development wing of the company said aluminium as a metal was light, so development of aluminium-based composite materials with capability to withstand very high temperature could be used for the indigenously-developed missiles by the DRDO.

Head of the Nalco research and development wing B.K. Satpathy said: “We can develop such high-end material at our upcoming research and development centre at Gothapatna on the city outskirts. The Rs 90-crore facility will be one of the much sought-after centres on metallurgical research, and especially, on aluminium related composite materials.”

Associate director of the organisation’s Integrated Test Range in Chandipur M.V. Bhaskarachary said the missile such as Agni on its descending path attained 2,000 degrees Celsius to 3,000 degrees Celsius temperature, and thus, it needed special composite materials to keep its electronic and other gadgets safe.

The senior scientist was speaking on the test range technology here yesterday on the eve of the National Technology Day.

Nalco scientists at its research and development wing, however, said that as the defence specifications were very stringent, they would first work on the exact requirement of the material used in the making of the missiles.

“Once we know the specifications, then we can go on developing the material. By the time we are ready with the background information and the type of materials to be used, our Gothapatna centre will be ready. Almost 80 per cent work of the laboratory is complete,” said Satpathy.

In another development, the organisation, in its missile technology, has achieved nearly 80 per cent to 90 per cent success with induction of the indigenous materials, parts and electronic equipment.

“Various parts and materials exported from abroad cost more. So, we are always open to the Indian materials to reduce the missiles’ production cost,” Bhaskarachary said.

The research and development wing has achieved a patent to develop a special product, derivative of alumina hydrate, which will be used in the making of paper and cable. The material will enhance the fire-resistant quality in the paper and the insulated cables.

“The patent had been filed in 2009 and the acknowledgement came in February. We hope once the research and development centre is ready at Gothapatna, we will be able to develop more innovative products,” said Satpathy.