Self-reinforced biopolymer composites. This project will pioneer high performance and biodegradable composites using self-reinforced biopolymer composites. Composites can have poor properties due to interfacial issues, and this reduces their performance. By producing a fully self-reinforced (where the fibre and the polymer are the same type of polymer) polymer composites, the project will develop a way to improve properties, increase the use of biobased materials, and improve recyclability and b ....Self-reinforced biopolymer composites. This project will pioneer high performance and biodegradable composites using self-reinforced biopolymer composites. Composites can have poor properties due to interfacial issues, and this reduces their performance. By producing a fully self-reinforced (where the fibre and the polymer are the same type of polymer) polymer composites, the project will develop a way to improve properties, increase the use of biobased materials, and improve recyclability and biodegradability. Outcomes include greater understanding of design of self-reinforced biopolymer composites structure, processing and properties. This will produce opportunities for high performance biobased composite manufacturing and a growing circular plastics economy for Australia.Read moreRead less
Experimental validation of the strain invariant failure theory for carbon/epoxy composites. The project will be of national and international benefit, through providing a validated, enhanced design capability for advanced composite materials. Greater depth of understanding of such materials will allow more efficient structures to be designed in applications requiring high strength and stiffness, low weight, and resistance to corrosion and fatigue. Such applications include the aerospace, offshor ....Experimental validation of the strain invariant failure theory for carbon/epoxy composites. The project will be of national and international benefit, through providing a validated, enhanced design capability for advanced composite materials. Greater depth of understanding of such materials will allow more efficient structures to be designed in applications requiring high strength and stiffness, low weight, and resistance to corrosion and fatigue. Such applications include the aerospace, offshore and mining industries. There are, therefore, far-reaching benefits in industries important to Australia. In addition, the reputation of the Australian aerospace research industry will be promoted through a collaborative association with Boeing, a world leader in development of commercial aircraft.Read moreRead less
Development of next generation smart sucker rod wear guides . In a natural gas wells, sucker rod guides protect the production tubing from wear by the rod string. Premature and erratic failures are costing the industry tens of millions every year. In collaboration with two local SMEs, this project aims to develop the next generation of smart and durable wear guides. The project seeks to understand the complex three body wear mechanisms that drive guide and tubing wear, then use this knowledge to ....Development of next generation smart sucker rod wear guides . In a natural gas wells, sucker rod guides protect the production tubing from wear by the rod string. Premature and erratic failures are costing the industry tens of millions every year. In collaboration with two local SMEs, this project aims to develop the next generation of smart and durable wear guides. The project seeks to understand the complex three body wear mechanisms that drive guide and tubing wear, then use this knowledge to develop new wear resistant compounds and develop a smart guide that provides feedback on its wear state. This will enable the industry partners to supply cutting edge technology to the global oil and gas industry that not only reduces well operation cost but also enhances well resilience.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE190101176
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$407,000.00
Summary
High-performance flame retardant polymer foams by bioinspired nanocoating. This project aims to develop high-performance flame retardant polymer foams by creating a flame-retardant nanocoating on their surfaces based utilising layer-by-layer assembly. Polymer foams are widely used as thermal insulation materials for modern buildings because of their low density and excellent heat insulation. However they are highly flammable, which poses a great fire threat to life and property. The flame retard ....High-performance flame retardant polymer foams by bioinspired nanocoating. This project aims to develop high-performance flame retardant polymer foams by creating a flame-retardant nanocoating on their surfaces based utilising layer-by-layer assembly. Polymer foams are widely used as thermal insulation materials for modern buildings because of their low density and excellent heat insulation. However they are highly flammable, which poses a great fire threat to life and property. The flame retardancy, durability and wear-resistance of the resultant polymer foams will be tailored by manipulating the layer-by-layer construction parameters. The flame retardant polymer foams developed in this project will not only contribute to saving energy, but also to minimise the potential of fire hazards to life, property and the environment.Read moreRead less
Novel microwave processing of carbon nanotube/thermoplastic composites. This project aims to develop a novel fabrication process for carbon nano-tube (CNT) / thermoplastic composites. The method, with lab based ‘proof of concept’, uses microwaves and overcomes problems of dispersion and aggregation of CNTs, which limit properties of the nano-composites. At lab scale, a 50 per cent increase in stiffness of polypropylene and an increase in electrical conductivity with the addition of 0.5 weight pe ....Novel microwave processing of carbon nanotube/thermoplastic composites. This project aims to develop a novel fabrication process for carbon nano-tube (CNT) / thermoplastic composites. The method, with lab based ‘proof of concept’, uses microwaves and overcomes problems of dispersion and aggregation of CNTs, which limit properties of the nano-composites. At lab scale, a 50 per cent increase in stiffness of polypropylene and an increase in electrical conductivity with the addition of 0.5 weight percent CNT has been demonstrated. This project should unravel mechanisms by which these outstanding property improvements are achieved and will scale up the process to industrial level. Expected outcomes will be economical, lighter and stronger plastics for manufacturing applications such as rotational molding, transport and electronic packaging.Read moreRead less
Core-shell nanofibrous bio-based flame retardants with reinforcement function. This project aims to develop high-performance bio-based flame retardants (FRs) by designing a novel core-shell nanofibrous FR system, combining exceptional flame retardant qualities and mechanical reinforcement to enhance the safe use of thermoplastic products. Thermoplastic products are widespread in building, electric and electronic, automobile and packaging products, but their intrinsic flammability poses great fir ....Core-shell nanofibrous bio-based flame retardants with reinforcement function. This project aims to develop high-performance bio-based flame retardants (FRs) by designing a novel core-shell nanofibrous FR system, combining exceptional flame retardant qualities and mechanical reinforcement to enhance the safe use of thermoplastic products. Thermoplastic products are widespread in building, electric and electronic, automobile and packaging products, but their intrinsic flammability poses great fire threats to the society. Flame retardants are key to producing fire-resistant plastic products with a low fire hazard rating. The novel bio-based flame retardant material developed by this project seeks to combine enhanced flame retardant properties and mechanical reinforcement functions. The outcomes of the project will demonstrate eco-friendly flame retardants and high performance flame retardant thermoplastic products.Read moreRead less
High performance polymer fibres for recyclable composites . The project aims to develop novel drawn polymer fibres with aligned carbon nanotubes incorporated inside and also grafted nanotubes on their surface. Such polymer fibres can be used to reinforce thermoplastics to make high performance composites with effective recyclability. This is important as the existing thermosetting composites are not recyclable and significant property enhancement require high loading (>30%) of reinforcing fibres ....High performance polymer fibres for recyclable composites . The project aims to develop novel drawn polymer fibres with aligned carbon nanotubes incorporated inside and also grafted nanotubes on their surface. Such polymer fibres can be used to reinforce thermoplastics to make high performance composites with effective recyclability. This is important as the existing thermosetting composites are not recyclable and significant property enhancement require high loading (>30%) of reinforcing fibres. The outcomes of this project will be novel technology for making high stiffness polymer fibres and their use in thermoplastic composites. The benefits will be to allow easy processing and recycling. They will be used in down-sizing of high volume products and high value automotive or aerospace products.Read moreRead less
Development of Fire Retardant Thermal Insulation Materials for Buildings. This Fellowship proposal aims to develop next-generation fire-retardant rigid polymer foams (RPF)-based thermal insulation materials for buildings. Through investigating fire-retardancy, mechanical and ageing properties, we will fundamentally understand the structure/composition - performance relationships of as-designed nanostructured fire-retardant polymer coatings and will achieve robust, durable and fire-retardant coat ....Development of Fire Retardant Thermal Insulation Materials for Buildings. This Fellowship proposal aims to develop next-generation fire-retardant rigid polymer foams (RPF)-based thermal insulation materials for buildings. Through investigating fire-retardancy, mechanical and ageing properties, we will fundamentally understand the structure/composition - performance relationships of as-designed nanostructured fire-retardant polymer coatings and will achieve robust, durable and fire-retardant coatings. This project will then apply the fire-retardant coatings to the RPF to create the target fire-retardant thermal insulation materials. New knowledge and patentable technologies to be generated will bring significant benefits to Australia by reducing energy costs and economic losses associated with building fires.Read moreRead less
High performance sustainable carbon fibres from Australian spinifex grass. Spinifex grasses cover approximately 30 per cent of our Australian continent, in the driest regions. It has been found that, presumably because of this harsh environment, they are uniquely easy to break down into ultra-long, thin cellulose nanofibrils. Through the use of novel catalysts and advanced processing techniques, this project aims to take advantage of this trait to deliver the cost-effective production of high st ....High performance sustainable carbon fibres from Australian spinifex grass. Spinifex grasses cover approximately 30 per cent of our Australian continent, in the driest regions. It has been found that, presumably because of this harsh environment, they are uniquely easy to break down into ultra-long, thin cellulose nanofibrils. Through the use of novel catalysts and advanced processing techniques, this project aims to take advantage of this trait to deliver the cost-effective production of high strength, sustainable carbon fibres from nanocellulose. It is expected that the use of the world's first university based research facility capable of producing high quality carbon fibre (CarbonNexus) will ensure the product is industrially relevant, with real potential to capture a share of the $14 billion carbon-fibre-composite market.Read moreRead less