IIT Gandhinagar develops import substitute for strategic aluminium alloy

Gandhinagar: In what may be called a breakthrough innovation for the defence and manufacturing sectors of the country, researchers at IIT Gandhinagar(IITGN) have developed a computationally designed high-strength aluminium alloy that could strengthen India's by reducing dependence on imported strategic materials like imported AA6082 alloys.

While strategic infrastructure, rely on a commercial aluminium alloy (AA) from the 6xxx series known as AA6082, that involves adding copper and zinc is a favoured alloy for its strength, corrosion resistance, and weldability, the addition of these elements reduces corrosion resistance, making components more susceptible to degradation over time.

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IITGN PhD scholar, Sagar Kumar Deb have developed a copper and zinc free alloy that delivers higher strength than the AA6082 and any other copper and zinc free 6xxx series alloys with good ductility while maintaining excellent corrosion resistance, makes it an indigenous alternative for our strategic sector applications without compromising long-term durability and eventually to reduce imports.

The alloy prototype has been successfully validated under laboratory conditions and is now progressing towards industrial-scale validation after which he project will focus on industrial-scale testing for cold-drawn tubes, followed by technology transfer to the Indian aluminium industry and eventual commercialisation. A provisional Indian patent has also been filed for the technology.

Commenting on the significance of the research, Prof Amit Arora, Associate Professor, Department of Materials Engineering at IITGN, said, "Developing indigenous high-performance aluminium alloys is an important step towards strengthening India's manufacturing ecosystem and reducing reliance on imports for strategic applications.”

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Speaking to ET about the next step related to this research, Sagar said, “the immediate goal is to complete industrial-scale validation of the alloy for cold-drawn tubes, secure the complete patent, and transfer the technology to the Indian aluminium industry”.

Sagar’s research has already earned him international recognition through the Larry Kaufman Scholarship 2026, awarded by the CALPHAD Inc. for his research on computational thermodynamics and materials design. Named after Dr Larry Kaufman, the pioneer of computational thermodynamics (CALPHAD), the scholarship recognises young researchers across the world who are making significant contributions to computational materials thermodynamics.

For Sagar, who comes from Tripura, a state in the Northeastern part of India, the recognition carries a special significance. “I hope my journey inspires more students from Northeast India and other underrepresented regions of our country to pursue advanced scientific research despite resource and financial constraints,” he added.