Research and development work at the National Metallurgical Laboratory

Abstract

METALLURGY in India dates back to the ancient times. In the middle ages, iron and steel manufacture flourished, and the renowned Indian steel was exported, especially to the Middle East. A relic of the Indian workmanship of that era stands today in Delhi-the glistening, 1500-year old, rust-free iron pillar in the shadow of the lofty Qutub Minar. Between then and today, one major change in metallurgy is its transformation from a craft to science. Out of about 70 metals known to occur, iron in its many forms is still the most used metal. A new trend in modern industry since the beginning of this century, however, is the increasing utilization of many new metals, considered hitherto as scientific curiosities. The number of metals known to commerce today is about 45 in contrast to barely 15 known in the beginning of the present century. Indeed, so great and rapid has been the exploitation of metals that more minerals have been extracted from the earth during the past 40 years than in all the preceding years of history.