Scope of research and development work on substitute alloys at the National Metallurgical Laboratory

Abstract

THE axiom that "Necessity is the mother of invention" illustrates the basis for the development of substitute families of alloys on which feverish activity spurts forth in the wake of war emergencies ; this however, has not been the only main axis for sustained work on the metallurgy and growth of substitute ferrous and non-ferrous alloys at the National Metallurgical Laboratory. In early identification of research themes and develop-ment projects at the National Metallurgical Laboratory, it was strongly felt that the indigenous growth of meta-llurgical and engineering industries after the initial impact of the imported technology had worn out, would inevitably center around indigenous minerals and metals. Whilst the chronic shortage of foreign exchange in the midst of equally chronic import of foreign aid, did succ-eed in keeping the broad based themes of substitution and substitute materials and alloys in theoretical limelight, it was the two successive war emergencies that brought home the importance, short-term and long-range value and scope of the substitution and substitute products and highlighted the value and importance of research and deve-lopment themes on which the National Metallurgical Labo-ratory had been engaged in an almost lone effort since a decade earlier when peace reigned supreme in our sub-continent.