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POF Metallurgical Laboratory

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POF Metallurgical Laboratory
Established1972 (1972)
Field of research
LocationWah in Punjab, Pakistan
Operating agency
Pakistan Ordnance Factories
Websitehttps://www.pmt-labs.com.pk/

The POF Metallurgical Laboratory (also known as "ML") is a research and development laboratory located near the Pakistan Ordnance Factories (POF) in Wah Cantonment, Punjab, Pakistan.[1] It is a part of POF Materials Testing Laboratories (PMTL Labs).[2]

Established in 1972 to study non-ferrous metals, it played an important role during the development of Pakistan's clandestine nuclear weapons program.[3][4] Its activities include research into non-ferrous and ferrous metals, materials science as well as testing, accreditation and quality assurance.[5]

History

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The Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) used the Metallurgical Laboratory in 1972 to conduct basic research into the chemistry and physical metallurgy of non-ferrous metals. Dr. Khalil Qureshi played a pioneering role as the lab's principal investigator.[6][7]

The lab also undertook classified studies, as codename: Wah Group Scientists, in designing and developing the non-nuclear physical components and performing metallurgy testing of explosives to be used in nuclear devices under Dr. Zaman Sheikh, a physical chemist.[8] The importance of its work in materials science and understanding the chemistry and metallurgy of plutonium evolved in the Metallurgical Laboratory into a critical laboratory, similar to the Pakistan Institute of Nuclear Science & Technology.[7] Due to the sensitivity of the projects and security concerns of scientists at the Khan Research Laboratories (KRL), the program was definitely moved to KRL in the 1980s.[4]

Current Role

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These days POF Metallurgical Laboratory offers a variety of material testing services, including:[1][9]

  • Metallographic testing: This examines the microstructure of metals and alloys to understand their properties and behavior.
  • Chemical analysis: This determines the elemental composition of a material.
  • Mechanical testing: This evaluates the mechanical properties of a material, such as its strength, ductility, and hardness.
  • Testing for ferrous and non-ferrous materials: ML can test both iron-based (ferrous) and non-iron-based (non-ferrous) metals and alloys.

Accreditations

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The lab is accredited by various accreditation bodies including PNAC[10] and ISO 14001:2004 by TUV Austria Bureau.

Customers

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Following industries utilize the services of ML:

  • Automobile industry
  • Research Institute
  • Oil and gas Industries
  • Defense production
  • Manufacturing units
  • Research & Development
  • Steel industries

References

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  1. ^ a b "LABORATORIES IN PAKISTAN". Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  2. ^ ":..PMT LABS..:". www.pmt-labs.com.pk. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
  3. ^ "Brochure PMT labs" (PDF). pmt-labs.com.pk.
  4. ^ a b Khan, Feroz Hassan (2012). Eating grass the making of the atomic bomb. Stanford, California: Stanford Security Studies, an imprint of Stanford University Press. ISBN 978-0804784801.
  5. ^ Director of Metallurgical Lab. "Scope of Metallurgical Laboratory" (PDF). Director of Metallurgical Lab. Retrieved 27 August 2013.
  6. ^ Rehman, Shahidur (1999) [1999], "§5 The Group at Wah", Long Road to Chagai (1 ed.), Islamabad, Islamabad Capital Territory: Printwise Publications, pp. 75–89
  7. ^ a b Mubarakmand, Samar, "A Science Odyssey: Pakistan Nuclear Emergence", Synopsis written and delivered at the Khwarizmi Science Society of Pakistan at the Centre of High Energy Physics of Punjab University, 30 November 1998.
  8. ^ Nayak, Pandav, Pakistan, Dilemmas of a Developing State, 1985, Aalekh Publishers, p. 252
  9. ^ Farid Ullah Khan and Amin Ur Rahman. "An Overview" (PDF). Pakistan National Accreditation Council (PNAC). Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 December 2013. Retrieved 27 August 2013.
  10. ^ "Testing and Calibration Laboratories". www.pnac.gov.pk. Retrieved 1 April 2024.

Further reading

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  • Rehman, Shahid-Ur (1999). Long Road to Chagai. Islamabad, Pakistan: Shahid-ur-Rehman. p. 157. ISBN 978-969-8500-00-9
  • Khan, Feroz (2012). Eating Grass: The Making of the Pakistani Bomb. Stanford University Press. p. 552. ISBN 978-0-8047-8480-1 Retrieved 3 February 2024.

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