A one-day workshop titled “Workshop on Development of Binders and Plasticizers for Energetic Applications” was organized at the Advanced Centre of Research in High Energy Materials (ACRHEM), a Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) Centre of Excellence at the University of Hyderabad (UoH), in collaboration with the High Energy Materials Research Laboratory (HEMRL)-DRDO, Pune.
The Workshop was inaugurated by Shri P K Mehta, DS & Director General-Armament and Combat Engineering (ACE) and presided over by the Guests of Honour, Honourable Vice-Chancellor of UoH, Prof. Appa Rao Podile, and Director-HEMRL, Shri K P S Murthy. Dr. K V Rao, Director-ACRHEM delivered the welcome address.
Shri P K Mehta elaborated the need for developing indigenous molecules that can be used for defense and space applications. Prof. Appa Rao underscored the computational facilities available at UoH and the need of the hour in the “Design & Synthesis of Novel High Energy Molecules”.
The HEMRL Director, Shri K P S Murthy discussed the importance of application-oriented research and the role of ACRHEM to focus on product driven R&D activities. The proceedings of the workshop was released by Shri P K Mehta. Invited speakers from VSSC-ISRO, IIT Bombay, CSIR-IICT, CSIR-NCL, HEMRL-DRDO and UoH delivered expert lectures on Development of Binders and Plasticizers for Energetic Applications. The present scenario of energetic binders and plasticizers at ISRO and DRDO were explored in depth. The two lecture sessions, each followed by engaging panel discussions, were chaired by eminent scientists from DRDO, Dr. S N Asthana and Dr. Manoj Gupta.
The workshop had about 70 delegates from outside UoH and about 30 delegates, mainly researchers from UoH. The workshop concluded with closing remarks by Director, ACRHEM, Dr. K V Rao.