Eco-Friendly Black Terracotta
NIT Rourkela Researchers Patented a New Method for Black Terracotta
Kanesa D — November 19, 2025
Researchers at the National Institute of Technology (NIT) Rourkela have patented an eco-friendly method for producing black terracotta, offering a sustainable alternative to traditional, smoke-heavy techniques.
Led by Prof. Swadesh Kumar Pratihar, with Shiv Kumar Verma and Rupesh Mandal, the team developed a process combining traditional artisan methods with modern science, using indirect heating in an enclosed, air-depleted chamber to cut toxic emissions and eliminate open-pit firing.
Black terracotta, popular in India for cookware, temple art, and roofing tiles, is valued for its glossy finish but has historically required labor-intensive methods in places like Nizamabad and Nixi village. This innovation simplifies production, reduces environmental impact, and makes high-quality black terracotta more accessible and sustainable for contemporary use.
Interested parties can learn more about the research team's work through the NIT Rourkela website.
