S&T planning in the area of metal matrix composites - A Delphi study

The paper describes the S&T planning priorities in the area of Metal Matrix Composites (MMC) with particular reference to Aluminium Matrix Composites. A formal technique like Delphi has been used to address the future need and assess the current status vis-a-vis topical issues in this area of importance. S&T planning in the area of MMC is confronted with the problem of systematic idea generation and project initiation in the developing country context with problems of resource constraints and expertise/infrastructures paucity. At the same time, there is growing interest in planning for futuristic S&T areas in a manner as to be of potential interest to the researchers, keeping in view expertise profile, areas of relevance and topicality, future interest and contextual constraints in terms of logistics and funds. This paper also attempts to address the issues in the area of MMC to derive research imperatives in a contextually specific manner.