Development of Materials and Processing Technology for Rural Blacksmiths : A Package

Abstract

Significant increase in agriculture products has been achieved in India through many avenues like use of better seeds, fertilizer, and irrigation yet less attention has been paid on improvement of the agriculture tools. Better tools and implements accelerate the agriculture product-ion and for this genuine sources of raw materials for implements are in demand. Considerable research work at National Metallurgical Laboratory (NML), Jamshedpur has proved the utility of improved agriculture tools. The traditional practice of rural blacksmiths for producing the tools is being challenged by the growing industries surrounding the villages. Modern industries at the urban sector have lured the rural youths to fill their pockets by the moderate pay packets. So they are eager to switch over to urban side leaving their traditional trades. Since a few of them are succeeded to get absorbed in the modern industries, most of them are forced to return to their villages and here comes the means of survival with the traditional trades unless the production technique is enhanced/updated. Various problems regarding raw mater-ials, education irtconnection with forging, design of implements and their heat treatment have been studied. Major phase of work, carried ou at NML was to provide technology for achieving suitable raw materials by back yard steel melting technique and establishment of appropr-iate forging and heat treatment schedule to meet the speci-fied standards. To provide technological support/ back up to practising blacksmiths of rural sectors, NML has asse-ssed the quality of existing tools and implements and suggested methods for life improvement. Keeping in view the economics, NML has developed a low cost fuel-efficient furnace with a marginal alteration of the existing (Mother earth) hearth furnace used by the rural blacksmiths. The efficiency of the furnace has been enhanced distinctively by reducing convective and radiative heat losses by controlling the pre heated air and natural airflow ratio through the blower. This furnace has such a design that the same can be used for heat treatment of the tools. Simultaneously, a manually operated mechanical hammer is also developed for sledging purpose.With this, blacksmiths can continue the forging operation single handedly with substantial ease and increased productivity.