- DMRL
DMRL’s focus in armament materials has been on tungsten heavy alloys which are used for anti-tank ammunition in battle tanks. The laboratory has developed the technology for tungsten heavy alloy core rods for Kinetic Energy Penetrators. Mk I penetrators with the capability of achieving a depth of penetration of 350 - 370 mm in RHA steel are currently under production. Mk II penetrators with the capability of achieving a minimum depth of penetration of 500 mm in RHA steel are currently being developed. R&D activity on futuristic penetrators aimed at achieving depth of penetration of 600 mm and 700 mm, has been initiated. DMRL was also responsible for setting up a manufacturing plant Heavy Alloy Penetrator Project (HAPP) under Ordnance Factory Board at Tiruchirapalli to produce these penetrators in large scale, using DMRL technology.
Drop Link is a part of the landing gear of fighter aircraft Tejas Mark-II, manufactured at Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), Bengaluru with DMRL technology.
DMRL has successfully developed indigenous isothermal forging technology for manufacturing critical components like Discs, Shafts and Blisks of Adour engine for Jaguar fighter aircraft. The technology is available for indigenous production of feedstock in the form of billets and bars at Midhani, Hyderabad while the technology is available for fabrication of discs & shafts at DMRL and blades and rings at HAL, Bangalore. The technology transfer for indigenous production of Adour engine discs is under negotiation with HAL / Midhani.
DMRL has developed vacuum investment casting technology to produce state-of-the-art Directionally Solidified (DS) and Single Crystal (SX) blades and vanes for gas turbine aero engines. Directionally Solidified turbine blades and vanes are columnar grained hollow castings with thin walled aerofoils between two shrouds. The castings are produced via vacuum investment casting process using Ni-base superalloys. Ceramic silica cores are used to get hollow cast components. Single crystal turbine blades and twin vanes are produced by using orthogonal grain selector from
DMRL with support from Indian Navy has successfully developed the technology for production of DMR-249A (Yield Strength ~ 400 MPa) and DMR-249B (Yield Strength ~ 600 MPa) steels using infrastructure existing in the country. Indian Navy has nominated the use of these steels for all new construction of IN Warships as well as future repairs. The first Indigenous Aircraft Carrier, INS Vikrant II, which was launched in August 2013, has been built entirely with these indigenous steels.
DMRL has developed a state-of-the-art technology for Ti sponge production from indigenous raw material (TiCl4) with quality of the sponge meeting international specifications.
DMRL has developed Silica Radome technology indigenously in view of its current and future requirement in large numbers for target seeking missiles. The DMRL technology is based on Cold Isostatic Pressing (CIP) and sintering which has been established for the first time in the country. The main advantages are indigenously available raw material, low manufacturing cost, consistent properties, good machinability and high component yield. DMRL developed Radomes have been successfully integrated with Astra Missile. The technology for silica Radomes has been transferred to (i) M/s MIDHANI (ii) M/s CEL and (iii) M/s BEL for large scale production.
DMRL has developed critical components for Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle which is powered by a scram-jet engine. The components are made by Chemical Vapour Infiltration and Deposition (CVI-CVD) of SiC into Carbon fibre performs. The Cf-SiC composite has excellent thermal shock resistance and strength retention up to 1500 °C. The Nose Tips & Wing Leading Edges of Hypersonic Vehicles have been developed to resist high heat flux and temperatures. These are potential thermo-structural materials for nozzle throats and cowl flaps.
Metal foams are ultra light weight materials which can absorb impact and blast energy efficiently. DMRL has developed Al, Ni and Ni-Cr-Mo superalloy foams. An excellent combination of unique properties makes these foams attractive candidate materials in defence, aerospace and civilian applications. Open cell Ni foam (30 ppi, 0.5 g/cc) developed by DMRL has been successfully used as secondary wick (Liquid acquisition baffle in Loop Heat Pipe) on GSAT-19 Satellite launched in June 2017.
DMRL has developed a Cu-4.5Ti alloy for manufacturing non-sparking tools as a substitute to toxic and expensive Cu-Be alloys. The alloy possesses good conductivity and strength. Typical non-sparking tools developed are: Scrapers, Knifes, White Bits, Hacksaw Blades, Spatula, Hexagonal Chisels.