The Development of Alloy & Tool Steel Manufacture in India during World War II

The Indian steel industry had confined itself up to the thirties to the manufacture of ordinary plain carbon steel, chiefly for structural materials for home consumption and rails for the requirement of Indian Railways. The manufacture of high-quality alloy and tool steels was practically non-existant, excepting small scale attempts by some steel makers for their own Works requirements. Just about fifteen years ago, when the steel industry in India had established itself, did it begin to look around and put in serious efforts lo try to get its rightful share of the special alloy steel market that was growing space. The impetus to embark on the manufacture of a suitable alloy structural steel presented itself when the project for the construction of the new Howrah Bridge was undertaken. Tatas rose to the occasion by producing 'Tiscrom', which is a low-alloy high-tensile structural steel about 17,000 tons of which was incorporated in the construction of the new Howrah Bridge. With the advent of low alloy high-tensile steel, began the development of another alloy steel, 'Tiscor', which is particularly resistant to corrosion and abrasion, and is of a sufficiently higher yield strength to enable rail-road engineers to design railway cars, trucks etc. of much lighter construction, where the hauling of dead weight is a detrimental factor.