Atmanirbhar In Critical Defence Materials: India Aims For Zero Import Of Boron Powder By 2025 

High Energy Materials Research Laboratory (HEMRL) Pune is the premier laboratory of Defence Research & Development Organization (DRDO) involved in Research and Development of High Energy and Allied Materials for potential use in strategic and tactical application in the field of Defence.

Among the various materials, Boron powder has remarkable properties due to low atomic weight and high heat of combustion which makes it strategic material for potential use in critical Defence system. Boron is presently being used in domain of air breathing propulsion field (SFDR Solid fuel ducted ramjet application). On other hand, due to its ready ignitibility with common oxidizer (KNO₃) it has vast application in booster motor igniter for ITCM (Indigenous Technology Cruise Missile) and igniter for Pinaka MK-I (enhanced) rocket system etc.

Boron powder is not indigenously available and it is difficult to import. To make the country self-reliant in the field of this metallic fuel, HEMRL, Pune has successfully developed and established an indigenous and cost effective manufacturing technology for bulk production of Amorphous Boron powder (BP) by metallothermic reduction of boric anhydride.

The technology of boron powder has been established for manufacturing of three grade of Boron (a) BP 85 (purity min 85 %) b) BP 91 (purity min 91 %) c) High purity boron powder, HPBP 95 (purity > 95 %). Technology is matured and to meet the bulk requirement of BP for various defence projects, TOT of Amorphous Boron Powder for two grades of boron has been issued to two industries of the country i) M/s Yuvraj Chemicals Pvt. Ltd., Pune ii) M/s Economic Explosive Limited, Nagpur

Due to its potential application, different grades of boron are considered as workhorse metallic fuel for all the futuristic Ramjet propulsion systems and all pyrotechnic igniters of ITCM, Pinaka Mk –I (enhance) etc.

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