Overview
- The two institutions formalised a collaborative programme under a memorandum of understanding to co-develop next‑generation blowing agents for strategic uses.
- The project targets HydroFluoro‑Olefins (HFOs), a class of fluorochemicals with zero ozone‑depletion potential and ultra‑low global warming potential that are replacing high‑GWP alternatives.
- CSIR‑IICT will supply its fluorochemical synthesis, process‑development and scale‑up expertise along with specialised facilities for safe handling of anhydrous hydrogen fluoride (HF).
- VSSC will lead application‑specific testing and technical evaluation, and the teams named include IICT scientists Nettem Choudary and Pravin Likhar and VSSC scientist Nallaperumal A. M.
- Leaders say the programme aims to reduce India’s reliance on imported specialty fluorochemicals and to advance the technology toward commercial manufacture for space and industrial uses.