Advanced Materials and Processes Research Institute

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INTRODUCTION:

Advanced Materials and Processes Research Institute, Bhopal was instituted in May 1981 and officially started functioning from Delhi . Dr. PK Rohatgi, the founder Director of the Laboratory is an eminent metallurgist with specialization in Metal Matrix Composition. He formally moved to the present premises at Bhopal in December 1983 along with a small group. To begin with, the laboratory had about 15 scientists, with 10 of them specialized in Metallurgy/Materials science. The laboratory essentially focused on Aluminum-graphite metal matrix composites, natural fiber based composites and material characterization.

AMPRI Bhopal shall endeavor to attain excellence and world-class stature in design and development of materials and processes related to engineering materials, alternate building materials, minerals and environment management. The laboratory shall aim to be a vital source of S&T for societal missions in water and rural technologies. Towards this RRL Bhopal shall constantly generate high quality science based knowledgebase and facilitate its utilization. The laboratory aspires to provide competitive R&D and technical services in the many areas.

CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE FIELD OF SCIENCE:

Although most of the projects carried out in the last three years pertain to either material development, design & process, it is necessary that the laboratory concentrate on only major programmes and carryout projects in mission mode. After a number of in-house deliberations as well as discussions in Research council meetings, the following emerged as the most suitable thrust programmes to focus on at RRL Bhopal.

Light material product development for automobile and aerospace applications. Over the years, the laboratory has established itself in the areas of Aluminum and Magnesium alloy development and especially Metal Matrix Composites. With the growth in the automobile sector this would be a promising choice. The high-end materials that emerge out of this research has a good potential to reach aerospace domain and the cost effective ones may penetrate into automobile world. This would involve players of Finite Element Modeling for material and process design, CAE-CAD-CAM integration, intelligent forming facilities, state-of-art material characterization equipments, efficient business management etc., all operating in an orchestrated mode. This will involve establishing enabling centre for technology incubation or adaptation as well.
Natural fiber (specially Sisal fiber) based products. RRL has been extensively working in the area of natural based building material such as wood substitutes, asbestos, natural fiber composites etc. Among the natural fibers it is proposed to focus on Sisal based Fibers since this xerophytes plant grows abundantly in this region and the fibers have excellent physical and mechanical properties. Technology development in this direction would greatly enhance the rural employment potential and the time is ripe for to consolidate the earlier experience and plunge aggressively into giving life to the already established technologies. This programme calls for yarn making, looming, knitting composite making and possibly a host of products ranging from handicrafts to engineering components.
Material out of Industrial wastes and wastes management. Building material promotion council (BMTPC) and TIFAC-Fly ash mission have sponsored a no. of projects for developing know how for the converting industrial waste such as Fly ash, Red mud, Copper tailings , Zinc industry waste to useful material. Only in the case of fly ash bricks, laboratory attain a level of transferring the knowledge to an entrepreneur and the remaining untapped ones also have large potential for seeing the light. In addition the environment modelling division of RRL Bhopal has a vast experience in the area of waste management especially in the area of computer modeling of environment scenario. On the whole, this area of 'wealth out of waste' is highly promising and the laboratory is vigorously pursuing it.

MAJOR AREAS OF EXPERTISE IN RESEARCH:

Materials Technology
Materials Characterization
Metallic Composites
Polymer Composites
Minerals Processing
Micro Separation For MEMS
Environmental Chemistry
Building Materials Development
Environmental & Disaster Modelling
Water Resources Management
Computer Simulation & Design
Materials Processing & Design
Process Modelling

Technologies transferred to the industries:

Aluminium Alloy Composite Materials for Automotive and Engineering
Applications
Fibers Reinforced Polymer Materials
Wood Substitute Materials
Demonstration Housing
Fly Ash Utilization in Agriculture
Novel Coal Preparation Techniques for Coking Coals.
Rejuvenation of Clogged Borewells by Chemical Hydrofracturing.
Z-A alloy bushes for Mining Sector, Sugar Industry.
Trimetallic Bearings.
Clay Fly Ash Bricks.
Non Asbestos Brake Pad Materials for Hydrogenerators.
High Performance Materials for Mining, and Farming Implements.

The areas where ongoing/future projects may be carried out are:

Sisal fibre technologies: Developing sisal fibre technologies such as, processing, weaving, making composite materials and dissemination of knowhow to rural communities.
Waste Utilization: Developing or extracting useful materials from industrial wastes such as flyash, red mud etc.
Metal matrix Composites: Developing melt route MMCs for automobile, aerospace, tribological
Design capabilities: Developing expertise to render services in the areas of material characterization, process/equipment design and CAE-CAD-CAM integration
Resources Modeling: Developing expertise to render services in environment, disaster, water resources modeling and management