High Energy Materials Research Laboratory High Energy Materials Research Laboratory ( HEMRL ) is a laboratory of the Defence Research and Development Organisation ( DRDO ) . Located in Pune , its main function is the research and development of technologies and products in the area of High Energy Materials and Explosive material s . HEMRL is organized under the Armaments Directorate of DRDO . The present director of HEMRL is Bikash Bhattacharya . HEMRL has a core strength of 1 , 200 personnel , comprising chemists , physicists , mathematicians , chemical , mechanical and electronic engineers . It is recognised as a postgraduate centre for basic and applied research and is an ISO - 9001 : 2000 certified laboratory . History . The precursor to HEMRL was the Chemical Examiner ' s Office which was established in 1908 at Nainital . In 1960 , it was renamed as Explosives Research & Development Laboratory ( ERDL ) and was located in Pashan , Pune . In 1963 , it was placed under DRDO control as a full fledged R & D laboratory . ERDL was renamed as HEMRL in March 1995 in order to emphasise its work in all aspects of high energy materials research . Areas of work . HEMRL is the main DRDO laboratory and one of the few labs in India that is involved in basic and applied research in all areas of high energy materials . Under this mandate , it conducts R & D in formulation , design and development of propellants , high explosives , pyrotechnics , polymeric materials , liners / insulators , and other materials . These include studies on the physiochemical and combustion characteristics of materials , the study of detonation phenomena and the development of new systems . HEMRL also carries out the synthesis of new explosive materials and compounds of importance in the field of HEMs . Design and development of pilot plants for synthesis of high energy materials and related non - explosive chemicals is also carried out . After the development of technologies and products , HEMRL is involved in the successful productionization and transfer of technology of these products to appropriate agencies . Facilities . In addition to a number of laboratory analytical instruments , HEMRL has state - of - the - art research and production facilities for the study of explosive , propellant and pyrotechnic phenomena . These include facilities for Measurement of flame intensity and temperature , study of detonation phenomenon , determination of mechanical properties of propellants & polymers and facilities for static Rocket testing and Non destructive testing of materials . HEMRL also has labs and pilot production plants for synthesizing high energy materials and their allied chemicals . In HEMRL , there was heavy explosion on Sept 30th 2009 and building roofs blown off and with many casualties . Projects and Products . HEMRL handles different projects for the Indian Armed Forces and other organizations like BARC and the Indian Space Research Organization . Technologies for Civilian use . In common with other DRDO labs , HEMRL also develops spin - off products for civilian use . Air Regenerating Composition . This composition is used for maintaining breathable air within a closed space . It regenerates air inside confined space by liberating oxygen and simultaneously absorbing carbon dioxide . It can be used in civil applications like rescue work in mines , fire / toxic environments , toxic gas / chemical plant operation , mountaineering expeditions , complete air regeneration inside a spacecraft , under sea exploration and mining etc . Chemical Kit for Detection of Explosives ( CKDE ) . A compact , low - cost and handy explosive detection kit has been designed and perfected for field detection of traces of explosives . The kit yields a colour reaction , based on which explosives can be detected in minutes . It is used for identification of all common military , civil and home - made explosive compositions , and is being used by Police and BSF for the detection of explosives . Indian CL - 20 . A new high explosive is in the making at a DRDO lab here that could replace other standard explosives of the armed forces such as RDX , HMX , FOX - 7 and Amorphous Boron . Scientists at the Pune - based High Energy Materials Research Laboratory ( HEMRL ) have already synthesised adequate quantity of CL - 20 , the new explosive , in their laboratory . The powerful explosive can substantially reduce the weight and size of the warhead while packing much more punch . The compound , ' Indian CL - 20 ' or ' ICL - 20 ' , was indigenously developed in HEMRL using inverse technology . CL - 20 , so named after the China Lake facility of the Naval Air Weapons Station in California , US , was first synthesised by Dr Arnold Nielson in 1987 . CL - 20 or Octa - Nitro - Cubane is a Nitramine class of explosive 15 times as powerful as HMX . HMX itself is more than four times as potent as RDX . CL - 20 - based Shaped Charges significantly improve the penetration over armors and could potentially be used in the bomb for the 120 - mm main gun mounted on the MBT Arjun tanks . The CL - 20 is its reduced sensitivity enables easy handling and transportation and reduces the chances of mishap and loss to men , money , materials and machines .