High performance cast magnesium alloys. Reducing the weight of cars, particularly their engines, enables substantial reductions in fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. A new generation of magnesium alloys will be developed by this project for the manufacture of considerably lighter components with improved mechanical performance for powertrain and structural applications.
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE130100051
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$200,000.00
Summary
Fabrication and characterisation facilities for lithium rechargeable batteries and supercapacitors. The facility, unlike any currently existing in Australia, will help researchers studying electrodes and cells at a high level. It will provide a new path to high-level research performance and will significantly enhance Australia’s research capability to bring new materials/technologies under development closer to application.
Multi-functional nano-modified cementitious materials for well cementing. By incorporating different nano-materials in well cements, this project aims to develop multi-functional cementitious materials with self-sensing properties and greater strength and durability under extreme conditions including high/low temperatures, high pressure and corrosive environments. The integrity and longevity of well cement are paramount for the safe, efficient, environmentally sustainable production of oil and n ....Multi-functional nano-modified cementitious materials for well cementing. By incorporating different nano-materials in well cements, this project aims to develop multi-functional cementitious materials with self-sensing properties and greater strength and durability under extreme conditions including high/low temperatures, high pressure and corrosive environments. The integrity and longevity of well cement are paramount for the safe, efficient, environmentally sustainable production of oil and natural gas resources. Cementing problems are the main factor contributing to incidents during drilling and completion of wells, necessitating costly remediation. It is expected that the novel cement developed in the project will produce safer wells with fewer (gas) environmental emission risks.Read moreRead less
Development of Viable Geopolymer. This project aims to improve the manufacture of geopolymer. Geopolymer (‘green cement’) is produced by alkali activation of fly ash and is a sustainable, low carbon dioxide alternative to conventional cement. Evaluation of raw materials and ensuring reliable performance are critical issues in geopolymer manufacture. The project aims to understand the geopolymerisation process and the behaviour of fly ash and activator in the process. It plans to establish a reac ....Development of Viable Geopolymer. This project aims to improve the manufacture of geopolymer. Geopolymer (‘green cement’) is produced by alkali activation of fly ash and is a sustainable, low carbon dioxide alternative to conventional cement. Evaluation of raw materials and ensuring reliable performance are critical issues in geopolymer manufacture. The project aims to understand the geopolymerisation process and the behaviour of fly ash and activator in the process. It plans to establish a reactivity index to quantitatively evaluate fly ash and match it with activator to achieve efficient activation with predictable properties. The project is expected to result in a scientific tool to assess fly ash suitability and a method to design and produce viable geopolymers.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
Vapour phase detection of chemical warfare agents. This project aims to create luminescent plastic optoelectronic materials that can detect airborne chemical warfare agents, particularly nerve agents. Such agents are often odourless and invisible at lethal concentrations, so technology must detect and identify them before exposure. The intended outcomes are design rules for sensitive and selective materials that can be used in a handheld infield detector to sense chemical warfare agents based on ....Vapour phase detection of chemical warfare agents. This project aims to create luminescent plastic optoelectronic materials that can detect airborne chemical warfare agents, particularly nerve agents. Such agents are often odourless and invisible at lethal concentrations, so technology must detect and identify them before exposure. The intended outcomes are design rules for sensitive and selective materials that can be used in a handheld infield detector to sense chemical warfare agents based on the materials’ photophysical properties, and new analytical methods and sensing protocols. This research will be of interest to security agencies in Australia and internationally, and will better protect our military.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0989123
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$575,000.00
Summary
Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS) Facility for Advanced Materials Processing. The establishment of the first Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS) facility would significantly enhance Australia's capacity in manufacturing of advanced materials, especially the more sophisticated and specialized materials, which is a National Research Priority. This facility will benefit a large number of researchers and projects in Australia's premier research organisations and will also meet the needs of organisations outside ....Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS) Facility for Advanced Materials Processing. The establishment of the first Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS) facility would significantly enhance Australia's capacity in manufacturing of advanced materials, especially the more sophisticated and specialized materials, which is a National Research Priority. This facility will benefit a large number of researchers and projects in Australia's premier research organisations and will also meet the needs of organisations outside the consortium. It will allow Australian researchers to remain at the leading edge of research and enhance collaborations in advanced materials nationwide. The successful outcomes of these activities will underpin the advancement in many areas of research and technology developments in the country.Read moreRead less
Entrainment and Mixing in Turbulent Negatively Buoyant Jets and Fountains. The project intends to develop tools to accurate predict fountain flows. Volcanic eruptions, building ventilation and brine discharge from desalination plants are all examples of turbulent fountains and negatively buoyant jets. The project aims to conduct an investigation into the turbulent structure of fountains and negatively buoyant jets using numerical simulation and laboratory experiments, and to assess the accuracy ....Entrainment and Mixing in Turbulent Negatively Buoyant Jets and Fountains. The project intends to develop tools to accurate predict fountain flows. Volcanic eruptions, building ventilation and brine discharge from desalination plants are all examples of turbulent fountains and negatively buoyant jets. The project aims to conduct an investigation into the turbulent structure of fountains and negatively buoyant jets using numerical simulation and laboratory experiments, and to assess the accuracy of the commonly used integral models and test the effect of the use of more accurate entrainment relations. This may have a range of applications – enabling better prediction of environmental impacts, reduction of the adverse effects of the discharge of pollutants, and reduction in energy consumption in building ventilation and other industrial applications.Read moreRead less
Tailoring the microwave dielectric properties of promising electroceramics for use in wireless telecommunication components and devices. This project aims to develop and tailor the microwave dielectric properties of promising electroceramic materials specifically targeting next generation wireless telecommunications applications. The partnership between the ANU and the Australian company Microwave and Materials Designs has the potential to enable new microwave electroceramic materials to be disc ....Tailoring the microwave dielectric properties of promising electroceramics for use in wireless telecommunication components and devices. This project aims to develop and tailor the microwave dielectric properties of promising electroceramic materials specifically targeting next generation wireless telecommunications applications. The partnership between the ANU and the Australian company Microwave and Materials Designs has the potential to enable new microwave electroceramic materials to be discovered and then incorporated into new microwave components and/or devices developed in response to the requirements of the international wireless telecommunications market. The requested PhD student will gain experience in both the industrial and academic worlds and the skills needed to be part of Australia's high-tech workforce. Read moreRead less