The Properties and Processing Performance of Ultrasonically Cleaned Wool Fibres. Australian wool production is a $2.5 billion export industry, and about 70% of Australian wool is exported to China for further processing. Scouring or wool cleaning is the first critical step in the processing chain, which has come under increasing pressure to reduce water and energy consumption and effluent discharge. Assisting leading wool processors in the research and development of the latest wool processing t ....The Properties and Processing Performance of Ultrasonically Cleaned Wool Fibres. Australian wool production is a $2.5 billion export industry, and about 70% of Australian wool is exported to China for further processing. Scouring or wool cleaning is the first critical step in the processing chain, which has come under increasing pressure to reduce water and energy consumption and effluent discharge. Assisting leading wool processors in the research and development of the latest wool processing technologies is of direct benefit to the wool production industry in Australia.Read moreRead less
Australian ultrafine wool dehairing and processing. A novel fibre separation process will be developed to achieve the finest merino wool for processing into luxurious items. This project will add significant value to our multi-billion dollar animal fibre industry, and further enhance Australia's international reputation as the source for the highest quality wool as well as wool research and development.
Reducing the hairiness and improving the quality of wool yarns. The fibre ends that protrude from the surface of wool yarns make the yarns hairy. Yarn hairiness leads to reduced efficiency in spinning, knitting and weaving. Excessive yarn hairiness also adversely affects other important yarn properties as well as the quality of wool garments. This project aims at reducing the hairiness and improving the quality of yarns made from Australian merino wool. It will generate new knowledge on the mech ....Reducing the hairiness and improving the quality of wool yarns. The fibre ends that protrude from the surface of wool yarns make the yarns hairy. Yarn hairiness leads to reduced efficiency in spinning, knitting and weaving. Excessive yarn hairiness also adversely affects other important yarn properties as well as the quality of wool garments. This project aims at reducing the hairiness and improving the quality of yarns made from Australian merino wool. It will generate new knowledge on the mechanism of hairiness formation and its reduction. This research will also help enhance the quality image of Australian merino wool and wool garments, adding value to the multi-billion dollar wool industry.
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Scouring and Dehairing Australian Cashmere Fibres. The project aims to develop a viable method of dehairing greasy Australian cashmere materials. Traditionally, cashmere materials are scoured or washed first, followed by dehairing to extract the useful fine cashmere fibres. This is expensive and water consumption for scouring is also high. The current project will overcome the difficulties in dehairing greasy cashmere and optimise the process of scouring dehaired cashmere fibres. Technology deve ....Scouring and Dehairing Australian Cashmere Fibres. The project aims to develop a viable method of dehairing greasy Australian cashmere materials. Traditionally, cashmere materials are scoured or washed first, followed by dehairing to extract the useful fine cashmere fibres. This is expensive and water consumption for scouring is also high. The current project will overcome the difficulties in dehairing greasy cashmere and optimise the process of scouring dehaired cashmere fibres. Technology developed in this project will reduce scouring cost and water consumption, improve dehairing yield, and increase the flexibility of cashmere scouring and processing, leading to a more sustainable Australian cashmere industry.Read moreRead less
Controlling and Predicting the Pilling Propensity of Fabrics. Pilling adversely affects the appearance of fabrics and garments. It is one of the most serious quality problems for the textile industry, particularly the wool industry. This project will examine and control the key factors that contribute to fabric pilling in the fibre-to-fabric conversion processes. It also aims to predict fabric pilling performance from these factors. This will help the industry, along the fibre to fabric chain, t ....Controlling and Predicting the Pilling Propensity of Fabrics. Pilling adversely affects the appearance of fabrics and garments. It is one of the most serious quality problems for the textile industry, particularly the wool industry. This project will examine and control the key factors that contribute to fabric pilling in the fibre-to-fabric conversion processes. It also aims to predict fabric pilling performance from these factors. This will help the industry, along the fibre to fabric chain, to understand the mechanism of pilling and to work together to manage and control this long-standing problem for the benefit of the textile industry as well as textile consumers.Read moreRead less
New hybrid fibres incorporating nano protein materials. This project aims to develop new cellulose fibres incorporating nano protein materials extracted from animal fibres such as wool. The structure and property of the new hybrid fibres will be studied. Combining cellulose and protein materials within a single fibre is a new and original concept. This will lead to the production of new fibres with enhanced attributes and add significant value to the multi-billion dollar animal fibre industry in ....New hybrid fibres incorporating nano protein materials. This project aims to develop new cellulose fibres incorporating nano protein materials extracted from animal fibres such as wool. The structure and property of the new hybrid fibres will be studied. Combining cellulose and protein materials within a single fibre is a new and original concept. This will lead to the production of new fibres with enhanced attributes and add significant value to the multi-billion dollar animal fibre industry in Australia. It will also benefit the collaborating country as the major consumer of animal fibres imported from AustraliaRead moreRead less
Evaluating host-parasite interplay in individual tissues. The immune system of the host and the infecting parasite has coevolved into a sophisticated balance of power. This project will explore this balance using Schistosoma japonicum infection in sheep and determine immune mechanisms unleashed by the host in various tissues as well as the response of the parasite to these attacks.
Understanding the interaction between wool fibre surface and ionic liquids. This project will advance the knowledge on wool surface/ionic liquid interaction, which has the potential to revolutionize the traditional and environmentally unfriendly wool shrinkage-proof treatment technology. This will have significant industry wide benefit for the multi-billion dollar animal fibre industry.
Development of a proto-type vaccine against gastrointestinal nematode larvae. Gastrointestinal parasites are the major cause of production losses in the Australian sheep and wool industries. Drug treatment is predominantly used to control infections but drug resistance has reached critical levels and is threatening the viability of sheep production in many rural areas. In collaboration with an international Animal Health company, we aim to develop vaccines against these parasites and provide a c ....Development of a proto-type vaccine against gastrointestinal nematode larvae. Gastrointestinal parasites are the major cause of production losses in the Australian sheep and wool industries. Drug treatment is predominantly used to control infections but drug resistance has reached critical levels and is threatening the viability of sheep production in many rural areas. In collaboration with an international Animal Health company, we aim to develop vaccines against these parasites and provide a clean, non-toxic alternative to drug treatment. The groundbreaking research involved in this project will also keep Australian animal scientists at the forefront of vaccine research and increase their capacity to attract further support from Industry.Read moreRead less
The critical role of kisspeptin/neurokinin/dynorphin (KNDy) neurons in gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) release. The brain controls fertility through the secretion of its primary stimulatory factor, gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH). Brain cells producing three key peptide hormones, kisspeptin, neurokin B and dynorphin (termed KNDy cells) are vital for the control of GnRH. This project will detail the role of KNDy cells in puberty and reproduction.