ISLAMABAD, Sept 29: The Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) has decided to develop new technologies in the area of advanced materials to be utilized in the field of energy, defence, agriculture and health.

Informed sources told Dawn here on Wednesday that the PAEC had asked the government to allow it to undertake a new project - development of composite materials and super-alloys - the objective of which was to make a contribution to defence-related activities and development of indigenous nuclear power capability.

The PAEC has informed the higher authorities that a new project, to be located at the Pakistan Institute of Nuclear Science and Technology (PINSTECH), was needed for the development of new technologies to produce and manipulate materials.

It was argued that in the given international political scenario it was not possible to achieve the objectives of technology development by technology transfer or technology sharing.

"Therefore, the only alternative is to make serious efforts to produce hi-tech materials indigenously," notes a document submitted to the government by the PAEC. It said the PAEC was actively involved (in the effort) to meet successfully the present and future challenges in the area of materials development.

The proposed research and development (R&D) project was not only fundamental to broaden scientific and technological capability but was also important from the viewpoint of economic development of the country.

"It is anticipated that it will make a remarkable contribution to the development of an infrastructure for the synthesis of composite materials and super-alloys required for their structural application in missiles, other aerospace and automobile industries and as nuclear reactors' structural materials.

The proposal will have a strong bearing on the betterment of the country. Therefore, it justifiably deserves priority," the PAEC told the higher authorities.

The purpose of the project was not only to fabricate and characterize materials but also develop high class materials processing facilities and technical know-how in order to produce other materials of utmost importance.

The proposed facilities required for the project will consist of a number of process units including "vacuum induction furnace, sintering furnace, hot isostatic press, extrusion press, scanning and transmission electron microscope, etc."

The project is related to the ongoing nuclear science and technology programme of PAEC. It was anticipated that the technical data obtained from the proposed research project will be published in the form of a number of technical reports and research articles in journals of international repute.

The research proposal is goal-oriented R&D project and technical data obtained will be purposefully utilized in the nuclear and missile programme of national interest.