NTTM drives self-reliant testing of protective textiles

The NTTM-sponsored project titled ‘Indigenously Developed State of the Art Instruments to Test Convective, Radiant, and Conductive Properties of Protective Textiles’ has resulted in the creation of three precision systems the Convective Heat Tester (ISO 9151), Radiant Heat Tester (ISO 6942), and Contact (Conductive) Heat Tester (IS 12127). These instruments enable evaluation of thermal resistance properties in materials used for firefighter suits, industrial protective clothing, and defence applications, where heat protection is critical.

Developed entirely using indigenous design and technology, these instruments offer performance comparable to imported counterparts while being significantly more affordable, priced between ₹5–10 lakh (~$5,500–$11,000) compared to ₹15–40 lakh (~$16,500–$44,000) for imported models. The reduction in cost and lead time is expected to expand access to high-quality testing across a wider range of industries and institutions, the Ministry of Textiles said in a press release.

The technology has been successfully transferred to Asian Test Equipment Pvt Ltd, Ghaziabad for commercialisation, in line with the Government’s Make in India initiative. The instruments have already been installed and validated at Ace Incorporation, Kanpur, and at the Centre for Fire, Explosive and Environment Safety (CFEES), DRDO, Delhi, and are now commercially available.

With indigenous availability, testing duration has reduced from about 30 days to 3–5 days, and testing costs have fallen from ₹25,000–₹40,000 (~$275–$440) per sample to ₹6,000–₹10,000 (~$66–$110), greatly improving ease of access for Indian manufacturers and R&D organisations.

Institutions such as CFEES, DRDO have reported satisfactory performance of the systems. According to NITRA, the instruments have been developed based on extensive field experience with imported models, ensuring world-class performance standards while fostering technological self-reliance.

The successful completion of this project, funded by NTTM, represents a meaningful contribution towards strengthening India’s infrastructure in technical textiles and aligns with the national vision of promoting innovation, sustainability, and self-reliance in the sector.

ALCHEMPro News Desk (RR)