Dr. Harsh Vardhan inaugurates Centre for Advanced Radiation Shielding and Geopolymeric Materials 

The Minister of Science & Technology, Earth Sciences Dr. Harsh Vardhan inaugurated the Centre for Advanced Radiation Shielding and Geopolymeric Materials and Analytical High-Resolution Transmission Electron Microscope Laboratory during his visit to CSIR-AMPRI in Bhopal on March 13, 2021. 

The Union Minister also laid the foundation stone of the CSIR-AMPRI Bamboo Composite Structure. Speaking on the occasion, the Minister said that CSIR-AMPRI has been successfully adopting ‘Waste to Wealth’ strategy as the institute has developed radiation shielding materials utilizing industrial wastes as raw materials.

The institute has come up with a novel process for making lead-free and highly effective shielding materials from industrial waste namely red mud and fly ash. The shielding materials can be used for the construction of X-ray diagnostic and CT scanner rooms. 

The Union Minister also mentioned that the institute is working in the cutting-edge areas of advanced technologies. It has taken the lead during COVID times by undertaking research in collaboration with AIIMS, Bhopal in the area of development of rapid electrochemical-based diagnostic for detection of SARS-COV infection. 

Centre for Advanced Radiation Shielding and Geopolymeric Materials

The Centre for Advanced Radiation Shielding and Geopolymeric Materials will be set up on a total area measuring 455.52 Sq.m and Carpet Area of 906.24 Sq.m.

The advances in geopolymeric materials will help boost strategic applications such as development of:

-Thermal Resistant Geopolymeric Concrete for Missile and Rocket Launching Pad
-Geopolymeric Bullet Proof Concrete for Bunkers
-Graphene-Induced Geopolymeric Concrete
-Geopolymeric Radiation Shielding Concrete

It will also have advanced conventional applications such as development and upscaling of ready mix Geopolymeric Concrete for road applications and structural applications and the development of Roller-Compacted Geopolymeric Concrete and development of pre-stressed Geopolymeric Concrete components.

Objective

•The centre is expected to help enhance the knowledge for understanding the mechanism of Radiation Shielding and improvement in engineering properties of developed materials.

•It will facilitate the upscaling of technologies in this area and provide technological support to the Indian industry. 

Analytical High-Resolution Transmission Electron Microscope Laboratory

The Analytical High-Resolution Transmission Electron Microscope Laboratory houses Scanning Transmission Electron Microscope (STEM) with High-Angle Annular Dark Field Detector (HAADF) and Energy Dispersive Spectrometer (EDS) along with TEM sample preparation equipment such as Ion milling system, Ultrasonic disc cutter, Dimple grinder, Disk punch, lapping disk and Diamond saw. 

This laboratory will be capable of performing microanalysis such as micro diffraction, rocking beam channelling patterns, qualitative and quantitative X-ray spectroscopy analysis, particle size analysis, dislocation density and movement, precipitation, nucleation and growth.

Significance

CSIR-AMPR Director Dr.Avanish Kumar Srivastava noted that these advanced instruments in CSIR-AMPRI could throw light on the morphological, structural and compositional analysis of advanced materials developed at CSIR-AMPRI. 

This facility will not only enhance the research quality of CSIR-AMPRI but also enable neighbouring institutes of Madhya Pradesh to carry out innovative research on advanced materials and develop know-how technologies. 

CSIR-AMPRI Bamboo Composite Structure

The  CSIR-AMPRI has developed the CSIR-AMPRI Bamboo Composite Structure, knowhow of manufacturing environmentally friendly multifunctional bamboo composite material, for modern housing and structures using abundantly available bamboo as a raw material. 

The newly developed bamboo-composite material will serve as a sustainable, competitive and environment-friendly alternative material, which will be useful for the construction of smart green buildings due to its aesthetic appearance, acoustic & thermal insulation. 

Benefits 

According to Dr. Harsh Vardhan, the CSIR-AMPRI Bamboo Composite Structure will be advantageous to the bamboo cultivators located in various parts of India. It will also help in the generation of employment. 

The Union Minister observed that while India is the second-largest cultivator of bamboo, it has only a 4 percent share of world trade and the bamboo wood technology has the potential of increasing this trade share.

Source: PIB