Grown not extracted: high performance plant-based polymer packaging. This project aims to develop high performance, thermoformed paper-like materials to replace petroleum-derived plastic packaging. The materials are made using mechanically broken down waste cellulose fibres, which are then formed into shapes with added barrier layers. The grant aims to control the mechanical treatment for optimum performance, engineer the shape forming process and design laminate structures to produce packaging ....Grown not extracted: high performance plant-based polymer packaging. This project aims to develop high performance, thermoformed paper-like materials to replace petroleum-derived plastic packaging. The materials are made using mechanically broken down waste cellulose fibres, which are then formed into shapes with added barrier layers. The grant aims to control the mechanical treatment for optimum performance, engineer the shape forming process and design laminate structures to produce packaging materials, which have all the advantages of plastic packaging with none of the environmental drawbacks. The grant also aims to develop new methods to characterise these composites. The intended outcome is a new industry manufacturing renewable, biodegradable packaging in Australia.
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High performance multifunctional hierarchical structured membrane for water processing. The water processing industry is one of the most important economic sectors in Australia, though water scarcity is an economic limiting growth factor. The project targets at developing the next generation water processing technology affordable to residential consumption and applications in the industry and agriculture.
Australian Laureate Fellowships - Grant ID: FL210100147
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,982,000.00
Summary
Alloy alchemy: New paradigms in alloy science to promote a circular economy. Although metals are readily remelted and reused, Australia exports most of its alloy scrap. These exports represent an opportunity for Australia to create value on-shore via a supply source that is secure against disruption. The Laureate will promote new ways to tap into this resource. It will provide the science needed to disrupt the current advanced alloy recycling paradigm and open up new avenues to create high value ....Alloy alchemy: New paradigms in alloy science to promote a circular economy. Although metals are readily remelted and reused, Australia exports most of its alloy scrap. These exports represent an opportunity for Australia to create value on-shore via a supply source that is secure against disruption. The Laureate will promote new ways to tap into this resource. It will provide the science needed to disrupt the current advanced alloy recycling paradigm and open up new avenues to create high value alloys from intermingled metal stocks that are currently ‘down-cycled’ because they are too costly to separate. The Laureate will also pioneer a new additive manufacturing technology to convert metal scrap into high value components, saving up to 95% of the production energy used to create the virgin metal.Read moreRead less
A new generation high crash energy absorbing barrier for improved road safety. The new, high energy absorbing road safety barrier developed in this project will provide better protection for all road users than current barriers by reducing the severity of car crashes. Current road barriers result in an average loss of 1600 lives in Australia annually, including a disproportionate number of young lives. The new barrier will be highly efficient in absorbing collisions from vehicles travelling at s ....A new generation high crash energy absorbing barrier for improved road safety. The new, high energy absorbing road safety barrier developed in this project will provide better protection for all road users than current barriers by reducing the severity of car crashes. Current road barriers result in an average loss of 1600 lives in Australia annually, including a disproportionate number of young lives. The new barrier will be highly efficient in absorbing collisions from vehicles travelling at speeds between 60 to over a 100 kilometres per hour. Installation of the new road safety barrier systems in high accident zones will save lives by reducing the severity of accidents involving road barriers. This will significantly benefit the community by reducing injury, medical, rehabilitation and property damage costs, and improve quality of life for all road users.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE180100002
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$808,191.00
Summary
A facility for laser-based automated manufacturing of carbon composites. This project aims to create an advanced manufacturing facility for carbon-composites research by integrating laser-based processing and robotic automation. It will enable fundamental research on rapid processing of high-performance thermoplastics and metal-composite hybrids, including functionalisation of the composite through nano-material coating technology, and new instrumentation for structural health monitoring. The fa ....A facility for laser-based automated manufacturing of carbon composites. This project aims to create an advanced manufacturing facility for carbon-composites research by integrating laser-based processing and robotic automation. It will enable fundamental research on rapid processing of high-performance thermoplastics and metal-composite hybrids, including functionalisation of the composite through nano-material coating technology, and new instrumentation for structural health monitoring. The facility will significantly enhance the research capability in the newly established ARC Training Centre for Automated Manufacture of Advanced Composites, which will engage with Australian industry to improve productivity and material performance for industry sectors such as aerospace, automotive, marine, and sport.Read moreRead less
Industrial Transformation Research Hubs - Grant ID: IH200100005
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$5,000,000.00
Summary
ARC Research Hub for Australian Steel Innovation. The Hub’s overarching goal is to support the transition of Australia’s steel manufacturing industry to a more sustainable, competitive and resilient position based on the creation of new, higher value-added products and more advanced manufacturing processes. It anticipates delivering original, innovative research designed to enable a necessary technological shift in the supply chain through integrating advanced enabling technologies in large and ....ARC Research Hub for Australian Steel Innovation. The Hub’s overarching goal is to support the transition of Australia’s steel manufacturing industry to a more sustainable, competitive and resilient position based on the creation of new, higher value-added products and more advanced manufacturing processes. It anticipates delivering original, innovative research designed to enable a necessary technological shift in the supply chain through integrating advanced enabling technologies in large and small businesses, developing step-change performance in anti-corrosion treatments and coating lines, generating more functional and durable products, and increasing resource intensities. It expects to train a more skillful and diverse workforce that will be critical in achieving this transformation.Read moreRead less
Design of tuneable microstructures for additive manufacturing. The project intends to develop methods to tune the microstructure of materials in additive manufacturing so that components can be manufactured with maximum productivity and properties. Additive manufacturing is leading the mass customisation of manufacturing. Designed tunable microstructures enable structure and properties to be tailored for specific applications. One of the greatest challenges, however, is how to control the scale ....Design of tuneable microstructures for additive manufacturing. The project intends to develop methods to tune the microstructure of materials in additive manufacturing so that components can be manufactured with maximum productivity and properties. Additive manufacturing is leading the mass customisation of manufacturing. Designed tunable microstructures enable structure and properties to be tailored for specific applications. One of the greatest challenges, however, is how to control the scale and morphology of the microstructure. This project aims to use the interdependence model of grain refinement to control and design grain sizes. The project first plans to investigate the near-rapid solidification conditions in aluminium alloys. It then plans to re-design the harder-to-manufacture titanium alloys to improve grain size control.Read moreRead less
Special Research Initiatives - Grant ID: SR180200051
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$497,638.00
Summary
Integrated platform technologies for remediation of PFAS contaminated water. This project aims to develop low cost platform technologies using our patented high capacity adsorbent material for the removal of perfluoralkyl substances (PFAS) from contaminated water sources in Australia. Our advanced adsorbent material is made from a novel sulfur co-polymer and activated carbon, both of which have high affinity for PFAS, but when combined as a composite provide significant advantages for PFAS remed ....Integrated platform technologies for remediation of PFAS contaminated water. This project aims to develop low cost platform technologies using our patented high capacity adsorbent material for the removal of perfluoralkyl substances (PFAS) from contaminated water sources in Australia. Our advanced adsorbent material is made from a novel sulfur co-polymer and activated carbon, both of which have high affinity for PFAS, but when combined as a composite provide significant advantages for PFAS remediation. This adsorbent will be applied in mobile water treatment plants for remediation of PFAS contaminated aquifers. We will also develop point-of-use water filters for individual, domestic use from the adsorbent, thus empowering individuals and local communities by delivering tangible solutions to Australia’s PFAS crisis.Read moreRead less
Ultrahigh strength maraging titanium alloys for additive manufacturing . This project aims to pioneer an unprecedented class of ultrahigh-strength titanium alloys for 3D printing by capitalising on both the alloy design theory of ultrahigh-strength steels and the unique capability of laser-based 3D printing. The planned research expects to significantly advance the knowledge base of advanced metallic materials and metal 3D printing via atomistic level characterisation and systematic mechanical p ....Ultrahigh strength maraging titanium alloys for additive manufacturing . This project aims to pioneer an unprecedented class of ultrahigh-strength titanium alloys for 3D printing by capitalising on both the alloy design theory of ultrahigh-strength steels and the unique capability of laser-based 3D printing. The planned research expects to significantly advance the knowledge base of advanced metallic materials and metal 3D printing via atomistic level characterisation and systematic mechanical property evaluation in relation to specifically tailored 3D printing conditions. Expected outcomes include a group of ultrahigh-strength novel titanium alloys for 3D printing and a new alloy design theory. This should provide significant benefits to the manufacturing industry to support the national economy and security.Read moreRead less
A transformational approach to enabling the low cost fabrication of intricate titanium components. The high production cost of titanium components has been the central issue that inhibits the large-scale industrial applications of titanium and its alloys, despite their outstanding properties. This project aims to develop an innovative titanium hydride injection moulding process to enable the fabrication of intricate titanium components at low cost while ensuring excellent mechanical properties. ....A transformational approach to enabling the low cost fabrication of intricate titanium components. The high production cost of titanium components has been the central issue that inhibits the large-scale industrial applications of titanium and its alloys, despite their outstanding properties. This project aims to develop an innovative titanium hydride injection moulding process to enable the fabrication of intricate titanium components at low cost while ensuring excellent mechanical properties. The outcomes have the potential to transform the current manufacturing practice of small intricate titanium components for wide industrial applications. In addition, the project aims to create and deliver new advanced manufacturing technologies and skills urgently needed by the Australian industries for lifting productivity and economic growth.Read moreRead less