NFC develops titanium alloy tubes for LCA

Hyderabad, June 8 (UNI) The Nuclear Fuel Complex (NFC) has developed Titanium Half Alloy tubes for Light Combat Aircraft (LCAs) and Thorium Oxide powder for the development of Certified Reference Materials (CRM), its Chief Executive R N Jayaraj announced today.

Speaking on the occasion of ''NFC Day'' celebrations organised at its campus here, Mr Jayaraj said the NFC had taken up the challenging task of making the tubes for LCA project in collaboration with Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), Bangalore.

He said the NFC had rich experience and expertise in processing of anisotropic materials such as Zirconium and Titanium. This ushered in an era of total indigenous capability in producing the difficult-to- manufacture material.

Stating Thorium Oxide powder was going to play a vital role as a major component of fuel for Advanced Heavy Water Reactor (AHWR) in the third stage of India's nuclear power programme, Mr Jayaraj said the NFC had come out with unique CRMs for Thorium Oxide powder which would be developed in the international market for sale.

The analytical results of CRMs were subjected to statistical evaluation based on International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) criteria.

Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) Chairman and Secretary to Department of Atomic Energy Anil Kakodkar handed over the first charge of Titanic hydraulic tubing for the LCA to Dr Dipanker Banerjee, Chief Controller of Research and Development Wing of DRDO.

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