The Laboratory is at the forefront of steel research and developing steel making technologies in collaboration with Industries. CSIR-NML is developing advanced steel grades to meet the increasing demands of automotive industry, armour grade steel for defence applications, super-martensitic steel for space applications, Hadfield steel for crusher applications, API steel with enhanced hydrogen embattlement resistance for Oil and Gas industry. The Laboratory is developing electrical steel for various applications. The Laboratory has extensive steel research portfolio dedicated to fostering innovation across Indian steel making industries aligning India’s strategic needs.
CSIR-NML is engaged in the development of non-ferrous alloys catering need of various industries. The Laboratory developed Corrosion resistance Al alloys with good weldability for automotive application, high temperature low sag Al conductor wires for overhead transmission line conductors, microalloyed corrosion resistant Al alloys as an efficient anode material for high energy density aluminium air batteries, high strength high conductivity copper alloys for lead frame application. The Laboratory is developing efficient anode materials for Al-air batteries for optimisation of self-corrosion rate of anodes and simultaneous high power and current density.
CSIR-NML is actively involved in the valorization of a wide range of industrial wastes, primarily focusing on the recovery of valuable metals, resource utilization and developing environmentally friendly processing technologies. The Laboratory develops sustainable, energy-efficient, and indigenous technologies for waste valorization to promote a circular economy. Many of these technologies have been transferred to Indian industries and MSMEs, fostering entrepreneurship and employment in the recycling sector. The Laboratory aims to provide economic solutions to pollution problems and contribute to India’s resource sovereignty by extracting valuable materials from secondary sources, aligning with national priorities like “Make in India” and sustainable development goals.CSIR-NML has made significant contributions to the field of corrosion science and engineering, particularly in industrial problem-solving, materials development, and the creation of a national corrosion map. The Laboratory has is setting up a Centre of Excellence for Wear and Corrosion Resistant Coatings Technology to develop coatings for infrastructure and extreme corrosive environment, high temperature coatings and microstructure, erosion and corrosion resistant coating and high performing zinc and colour zinc coating for automobiles & rails. This center will create state-of-the-art facilities under one roof to serve both industries and academia as a comprehensive hub for developing technologies to combat wear and corrosion encountered by the industries.CSIR-NML made several contributions to the strategic sectors. Tungsten extraction from scraps, low-grade tailings, development of geopolymer cement for immobilization of radioactive waste, failure analysis of critical assets of the Air Force and other defence organizations, technology development for on-board spacecraft life detection, etc. The Laboratory is providing RLA studies, failure investigations, and root cause analyses for various sectors including Railways, Petrochemicals, Chemicals, Power and strategic sectors.
Green Hydrogen is expected to play an important role in India’s journey towards decarbonisation and energy security. To ensure quality, sustainability, and safety in production and trade, development of robust quality and performance testing facilities will be an integral part of the National Green Hydrogen Mission. CSIR-NML is setting up of an ambitious test facilities and infrastructure for materials evaluation for hydrogen transport pipelines and development of standards to ensure safe and secure operations of equipment/instruments used in the Green Hydrogen Value Chain.
The Laboratory is focusing on technological advancements in critical mineral availability, extraction methodologies, and meeting the demand by recycling, and their applications. CSIR-NML is one of the seven institutes recognized as a Centre of Excellence (CoE) under the Ministry of Mines’s National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM) with an ambitious role to conduct innovative research, develop technologies, and deploy them for critical minerals to strengthen India’s capabilities in strategic sectors.
The Laboratory is celebrating Platinum Jubilee year. Under the leadership of Dr. Sandip Ghosh Chowdhury, Director, CSIR–NML several major events were organized throughout the year to celebrate NML’s Platinum Jubilee. Significant collaborative research initiatives, industry-driven projects, and the successful transfer of technologies for Commercialisation stood as key highlights, truly reflecting the spirit and impact of the Platinum Jubilee celebrations.
