Synthesis of functionalised metal oxide beads with hierarchical pores for radionuclide and metal sequestration. The central aim of this project is to fabricate nanostructured materials to address the worldwide issue of nuclear waste. These novel materials, with tailored porosity and surface functionality, will decrease both radioactive waste volume and the potential for environmental risk. The collaboration between the Caruso group at the University of Melbourne and the Luca group at ANSTO will ....Synthesis of functionalised metal oxide beads with hierarchical pores for radionuclide and metal sequestration. The central aim of this project is to fabricate nanostructured materials to address the worldwide issue of nuclear waste. These novel materials, with tailored porosity and surface functionality, will decrease both radioactive waste volume and the potential for environmental risk. The collaboration between the Caruso group at the University of Melbourne and the Luca group at ANSTO will educate more scientists and students in the areas of nuclear science and engineering, and the environmental impact of nuclear power generators. Such expertise is currently in high demand around the world, thereby enhancing Australia's position in the global nuclear field.Read moreRead less
Nano-scale Modification of Paint Surfaces for Contamination Resistance. The main aim of this work is to develop a process to produce a dirt resistant paint surface. Dirt resistance is an important characteristic of prepainted steel sheets often used in architectural situations where dirt build-up is unsightly. To develop the process it will be necessary to understand the mechanism of dirt adhesion to paints and the modes of operation of current dirt resistant processes. In addition work will be ....Nano-scale Modification of Paint Surfaces for Contamination Resistance. The main aim of this work is to develop a process to produce a dirt resistant paint surface. Dirt resistance is an important characteristic of prepainted steel sheets often used in architectural situations where dirt build-up is unsightly. To develop the process it will be necessary to understand the mechanism of dirt adhesion to paints and the modes of operation of current dirt resistant processes. In addition work will be required on the rate of surface segregation of additives to the paint solution. We propose to combine experimental and theoretical modelling approaches to obtain a fundamentally sound practical solution.Read moreRead less
Fabrication of robust nanoscale optical biosensors using the novel spinning disc reactor technology. Spinning Disc Reactor (SDR) technology is new to Australia and will have wide ranging applications in nano-technology, and is destined to attract significant industrial interest beyond the proposed application in nano-scale biosensors. SDR is based on continuous flow and is more benign (less chemical waste) than traditional batch technology with a smaller footprint and significantly reduced capit ....Fabrication of robust nanoscale optical biosensors using the novel spinning disc reactor technology. Spinning Disc Reactor (SDR) technology is new to Australia and will have wide ranging applications in nano-technology, and is destined to attract significant industrial interest beyond the proposed application in nano-scale biosensors. SDR is based on continuous flow and is more benign (less chemical waste) than traditional batch technology with a smaller footprint and significantly reduced capital outlay. The emergence of SDR technology will revolutionize the practice of nano-engineering leading to miniaturization of devices, advances in information technologies and intelligent systems, and the revolution in medical science. The exciting research will enhance public opinion towards science.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE160100357
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$345,000.00
Summary
Ultrastable metallic glasses. The aim of this project is to create a new class of amorphous alloy – ultrastable metallic glass – by a relatively simple vapour-deposition route. These materials are expected to exhibit unprecedentedly low energy states and properties of high thermal stability, elastic modulus, strength, and hardness not achievable in metallic glasses produced by conventional routes. These new materials may also provide a platform for addressing the longstanding issues of relaxatio ....Ultrastable metallic glasses. The aim of this project is to create a new class of amorphous alloy – ultrastable metallic glass – by a relatively simple vapour-deposition route. These materials are expected to exhibit unprecedentedly low energy states and properties of high thermal stability, elastic modulus, strength, and hardness not achievable in metallic glasses produced by conventional routes. These new materials may also provide a platform for addressing the longstanding issues of relaxation dynamics in glassy physics. The unique properties of ultrastable metallic glasses are expected to make them useful in a range of applications, including highly wear- and corrosion-resistant coatings on electronics and biomedical devices and components.Read moreRead less
The design of new die-castable bulk metallic glasses exhibiting superior mechanical performance. The most dramatic illustration of non-equilibrium processing of a metal is the formation of an amorphous solid that can possess physical and/or functional properties superior to its equilibrium crystalline counterpart. This project will generate new types of net-shape-processed amorphous alloys with an excellent combination of properties.
A new class of poly-amorphous alloy exhibiting outstanding damage tolerance. The most dramatic illustration of non-equilibrium processing of a metal is the formation of an amorphous solid that can possess physical and/or functional properties superior to its equilibrium crystalline counterpart. This project will generate a new class of highly processable amorphous metal with an unusual combination of mechanical properties.
Ultra-lightweight alloys with unique multi-dimensional property profiles. Lightweight alloys with high specific-strength are an essential prerequisite in modern and future technologies. To be useful, they must also possess ductility and inherent corrosion resistance. The latter two properties, however, are inversely correlated with strength. This project proposes to break this paradox - not only in terms of a paradigm change regarding multi-property alloy design - but as applied to the most ligh ....Ultra-lightweight alloys with unique multi-dimensional property profiles. Lightweight alloys with high specific-strength are an essential prerequisite in modern and future technologies. To be useful, they must also possess ductility and inherent corrosion resistance. The latter two properties, however, are inversely correlated with strength. This project proposes to break this paradox - not only in terms of a paradigm change regarding multi-property alloy design - but as applied to the most lightweight engineering alloy system in existence, Magnesium-Lithium (Mg-Li), for which the impact on specific properties is immense. The aim is to develop ultra-lightweight Mg-Li based alloys with formidable property profiles via alloy design and thermomechanical processing. The expected outcome is a new class of structural corrosion resistant metal.Read moreRead less
Crystallography to deform and anneal metals. This project aims to study how the micromechanisms of plastic deformation affect the annealing behaviour of metals. This project will create a computational platform built on a reconstruction algorithm for three-dimensionally reconstructing experimentally-derived orientation data to generate the complete microstructure of crystalline material. It will reconstruct complex deformation and recrystallising structures in metals, through to the boundaries, ....Crystallography to deform and anneal metals. This project aims to study how the micromechanisms of plastic deformation affect the annealing behaviour of metals. This project will create a computational platform built on a reconstruction algorithm for three-dimensionally reconstructing experimentally-derived orientation data to generate the complete microstructure of crystalline material. It will reconstruct complex deformation and recrystallising structures in metals, through to the boundaries, phases and interfaces present in metals and ceramics. The intended outcome is the explanation of unresolved phenomena associated with thermomechanical processing of metals and alloys, useful for materials science, structural geology and condensed matter physics.Read moreRead less
ENHANCED PERFORMANCE OF AUTOMOTIVE SHEET ALLOYS VIA CONTROL OF COMPOSITION, THERMAL PROCESSING AND NANOSTRUCTURE. This project involves characterisation using modern facilities of the form and identity of atomic-scale clusters of alloying elements in selected automotive sheet alloys that have been subjected to single and multiple ageing treatments and examination and modelling of deformation mechanisms and behaviour in such alloys. The aim is to establish the precise role of clusters of solute a ....ENHANCED PERFORMANCE OF AUTOMOTIVE SHEET ALLOYS VIA CONTROL OF COMPOSITION, THERMAL PROCESSING AND NANOSTRUCTURE. This project involves characterisation using modern facilities of the form and identity of atomic-scale clusters of alloying elements in selected automotive sheet alloys that have been subjected to single and multiple ageing treatments and examination and modelling of deformation mechanisms and behaviour in such alloys. The aim is to establish the precise role of clusters of solute atoms and vacancies in the formation of precipitate phases that control the final strength and deformation behaviour of the alloys, and to provide useful guidelines for further improvements in strength of these alloys via the control of alloy composition and of multiple ageing treatments.Read moreRead less
New Wrought Magnesium Alloys: Manipulating the Annealed Microstructure. One of the main impediments to increased use of wrought magnesium is its characteristic but mediocre mechanical properties. The proposed work paves the way for new improved wrought magnesium alloys by determining how the constituent nano-structures, micro-structures and deformation conditions can be manipulated to control the evolution of properties during annealing. The project will deliver mathematical models describing th ....New Wrought Magnesium Alloys: Manipulating the Annealed Microstructure. One of the main impediments to increased use of wrought magnesium is its characteristic but mediocre mechanical properties. The proposed work paves the way for new improved wrought magnesium alloys by determining how the constituent nano-structures, micro-structures and deformation conditions can be manipulated to control the evolution of properties during annealing. The project will deliver mathematical models describing the annealed microstructure and mechanical properties. The work will also explore the potential of a recent discovery made by the CI of a simple technique to randomise the alignment of the annealed atomic lattice structure, which promises to markedly improve formability.Read moreRead less