IICT develops synthetic aviation lubricant

Hyderabad-based Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (IICT) has successfully developed a synthetic aviation lubricant, which is a highly guarded technology. The lubricant is likely to be commercially produced by the state-owned Indian Oil Corporation from 2007.

"This material has a more strategic value than commercial value," J S Yadav, director, IICT, said here today.

According to him, the aviation lubricant, which has to withstand temperatures as high as 140 degree centigrade and as low as minus 40 degree centigrade, is at present being produced only in four countries including the US and France in the world.

"If by any reason these countries refuse to export the aviation lubricant to India, not a single aircraft in the country will be able to fly. This is why, we needed the technology for all its strategic purposes," he said.

The institute has a budget of Rs 17 crore for the aviation lubricant project and has so far produced five kg of the material. The material is expected to be tested in the aircraft in 2006 before it is taken up for commercial production by the IOC.

Annually, aviation lubricant worth over Rs 100 crore is being imported for domestic usage. Once it is indigenously produced, the cost would also come down, Yadav said. The institute has so far developed 330 technologies and worked on over 1,600 projects.

It has earned over Rs 20 crore from the industry collaboration. IICT would be completing 61 years of existence on August 5, 2005.