Bhubaneswar: Vedanta Aluminium, India’s largest producer of aluminium, has achieved a major milestone with the grant of its first new product development patent fora lead- and tin-free bismuth-aluminium alloy.This innovation addresses the global phaseout of hazardous elements like lead and tin, offering a sustainable, high-machinability solution for critical industrial applications.
This patent marks a breakthrough in sustainable material innovation, combining engineering excellence with environmental responsibility.
Developed by Vedanta Aluminium’s in-house R&D team, this alloy represents a major step forward in sustainable metallurgy. By replacing hazardous elements such as lead and tin with bismuth, the alloy not only meets global environmental standards but also delivers exceptional machinability and mechanical strength.The alloy is engineered for components used across automotive, electronics, and textile sectors, where machining operations are central to production. Applications include automotive parts such as ABS manifolds, hydraulic manifolds, valve blocks, transmission sleeves, air conditioning components, steering yokes, drive shafts, and electrical connectors, as well as electronic components like camera and clock parts and mobile phone housings.
Rajiv Kumar, CEO, Vedanta Aluminium, said,“Innovation and sustainability are at the heart of Vedanta Aluminium’s R&D efforts, driving us to create solutions that advance our environmental goals while delivering world-class breakthrough products. This patent validates our efforts at pushing the boundaries of material science, while embedding sustainability into every stage of our value chain. The bismuth-aluminium alloy represents the future of responsible manufacturing.”
The inspiration for this innovation stemmed from an increasing customer demand for sustainable, high-performance alternatives to traditional machinable alloys such as AA6262 and AA6020, which contain lead and tin. With these alloys under regulatory scrutiny, industries have been using standard grades like AA6061 and AA6082, which pose limitations such as poor surface finish, reduced tool life, higher cutting load, and longer operation times.Vedanta Aluminium’s newly developed bismuth-aluminium alloy addresses these challenges by combining sustainability with performance, enabling industries to transition to cleaner, more efficient materials without compromise.
The patented alloy underscores Vedanta Aluminium’s commitment to sustainable product development and supports national initiatives like ‘Make in India’ and ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ by fostering indigenous technological innovation. It also contributes to the company’s long-term ambition of achieving Net Zero Carbon Emissions by 2050.
