Polymers for Novel Surfactants. The aim of the proposed research is to develop novel surface-active polymers with complex architectures and more efficient strategies for the synthesis of surface-active polymers in general. We will exploit the polymerization characteristics of the novel catalytic chain transfer and radical addition-fragmentation transfer polymerization techniques to achieve polymerization control that has been virtually impossible hitherto. The proposed research will thus make ....Polymers for Novel Surfactants. The aim of the proposed research is to develop novel surface-active polymers with complex architectures and more efficient strategies for the synthesis of surface-active polymers in general. We will exploit the polymerization characteristics of the novel catalytic chain transfer and radical addition-fragmentation transfer polymerization techniques to achieve polymerization control that has been virtually impossible hitherto. The proposed research will thus make accessible a wide range of novel surface-active polymers that have been impossible to synthesise to date, and which we expect to be more efficient and hence leads to greener technologies.
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Nanoparticles with designed morphology for surface-coating applications. Significantly improved water-based paints, with zero volatile organic content and organic opacifiers, are highly desirable for environmental and health reasons. The science needed to produce such paints has been persistently elusive. USyd and Dulux will collaborate to achieve these paints by using Australian-developed platform technologies that allow polymer architecture to be controlled at molecular and nanoscale levels. T ....Nanoparticles with designed morphology for surface-coating applications. Significantly improved water-based paints, with zero volatile organic content and organic opacifiers, are highly desirable for environmental and health reasons. The science needed to produce such paints has been persistently elusive. USyd and Dulux will collaborate to achieve these paints by using Australian-developed platform technologies that allow polymer architecture to be controlled at molecular and nanoscale levels. This will give us the means to make structured nanoparticles with morphologies that had been regarded as unachievable, and that are the key to dispensing with harmful ingredients in paints.Read moreRead less
Chemical listening devices: Novel sensors targeting the clandestine manufacture and transport of illicit drugs and explosives. There can be no doubt that protecting Australia's borders from the dual threats of terrorism and illicit drugs is of paramount importance to continuation of our well-being and way of life. Our chemical sensors are simple hand-held or remote chemical listening sensors, which will have the ability to sense the presence of characteristic chemical vapours associated with exp ....Chemical listening devices: Novel sensors targeting the clandestine manufacture and transport of illicit drugs and explosives. There can be no doubt that protecting Australia's borders from the dual threats of terrorism and illicit drugs is of paramount importance to continuation of our well-being and way of life. Our chemical sensors are simple hand-held or remote chemical listening sensors, which will have the ability to sense the presence of characteristic chemical vapours associated with explosives and illicit drugs. The simplicity and low cost of the chemical listening allows for installation at key locations -e.g. transport hubs, shipping containers, airports etc as well as placement within clandestine drug laboratories.Read moreRead less
Novel Coatings For Steel. The aim of this project is to design coatings for steel that have high flexibility and high resistance to scatching and hardness. This will be achieved by the introduction of liquid crystalline phases in the coatings. The outcome will be a new generation of steel coatings with novel properties
Triblock Copolymeric Structures As Novel Dispersants. ICI are one of the largest producers of surface-active compounds in the world. ICI are represented in Australia by National Starch & Chemicals who have significant manufacturing and research/development sites in Sydney and Melbourne. As the fastest growing market for dispersants is SE Asia, it is our intention that if the research is successful that scale up and manufacture will occur at both the Bristish and Australian sites.
New-generation starch-based paper coatings. This project is to make a new hybrid biomaterial which encapsulates starch in a synthetic polymer latex for use in paper manufacture. A novel process has been devised for this by the parties. This project is the fundamental research and development needed to turn successful preliminary experiments into commercial reality; it involves a unique combination of cereal and polymer scientists and paper technologists. The product has the potential to set up a ....New-generation starch-based paper coatings. This project is to make a new hybrid biomaterial which encapsulates starch in a synthetic polymer latex for use in paper manufacture. A novel process has been devised for this by the parties. This project is the fundamental research and development needed to turn successful preliminary experiments into commercial reality; it involves a unique combination of cereal and polymer scientists and paper technologists. The product has the potential to set up a new industry to use starch from Australian cereal grains to replace imports and create new markets, as well as reducing environmental problems from paper manufacture.Read moreRead less
Surface engineering of oriented nano-layers for performance control. This research project will deliver knowledge on how to graft oriented, self assembled films from a surface, develop structure-property relationships at a nano-scale, develop a means to control these properties and develop characterization techniques at nano-scales. This research project, if successful, will deliver the ability to tailor the properties of a surface in a manner and over a range of properties that is not even cont ....Surface engineering of oriented nano-layers for performance control. This research project will deliver knowledge on how to graft oriented, self assembled films from a surface, develop structure-property relationships at a nano-scale, develop a means to control these properties and develop characterization techniques at nano-scales. This research project, if successful, will deliver the ability to tailor the properties of a surface in a manner and over a range of properties that is not even contemplated today.
In addition to the scientific benefits, there are also immediate commercial applications in Australia and worldwide for ophthalmic products (e.g. anti-fog and easy to clean lenses), if the balance of properties can be obtained.
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Low Fouling Hollow Fibre Membranes. The aim is to obtain hydrophilic water-filtration membranes. This is important as making the filtrations more hydrophilic reduces fouling. We expect the outcome to be a new type of water filtration membrane with improved properties over existing commercial membranes.
Controlled Grafting of Polymer Surfaces for Biotechnology Applications. The aim of this project is to utilise novel polymerization methods to create highly functional polymer surfaces. We anticipate that the resultant structures will be useful for a number of applications including solid-phase organic synthesis and proteomics.
Bubble Stabilization and Density Control in Self-Supporting Explosive Emulsions. The mining industry in Australia employs about 70,000 people and has a total sales and service income of about $55B. Most mining outputs are commodities and a reduction in cost is the primary method of increasing market share. DNAP is a major supplier of explosive services to mines that produce coal, iron ore and gold for export. The work in this project will lead to more efficient explosives emulsions and allow mi ....Bubble Stabilization and Density Control in Self-Supporting Explosive Emulsions. The mining industry in Australia employs about 70,000 people and has a total sales and service income of about $55B. Most mining outputs are commodities and a reduction in cost is the primary method of increasing market share. DNAP is a major supplier of explosive services to mines that produce coal, iron ore and gold for export. The work in this project will lead to more efficient explosives emulsions and allow mining tolower total cost per unit sold. Such improvements in mining efficiencies will have a direct impact of the selling price of the product. Increased export earnings and a greater number of people employed in the industry would be direct results of the successful completion of the work proposed.Read moreRead less