Improving anti-salt crystallisation for solar-steam desalination. This project aims to solve a critical issue of solar-steam desalination by fundamental research. The solar-steam desalination technology offers an ideal strategy to utilize solar light as the energy source for desalination and water purification to produce affordable clean water. Photothermal materials play a key role in the desalination system to convert sunlight to heat and subsequently evaporate the saline water to generate ste ....Improving anti-salt crystallisation for solar-steam desalination. This project aims to solve a critical issue of solar-steam desalination by fundamental research. The solar-steam desalination technology offers an ideal strategy to utilize solar light as the energy source for desalination and water purification to produce affordable clean water. Photothermal materials play a key role in the desalination system to convert sunlight to heat and subsequently evaporate the saline water to generate steam as clean water. However, salt crystallization on the photothermal material surfaces severely limits the performance of the materials and clean water production. Solving this problem could accelerate the commercialisation and application of this technology, which will benefit millions of people worldwide.Read moreRead less
Interface structures mediating load transfer between soft and hard tissues. This project aims to develop a novel technology platform to mediate load transfer between synthetic and biological materials with dissimilar mechanical properties, creating an effective interface mechanism. It will generate new knowledge in materials engineering by combining interdisciplinary expertise and state-of-the-art technologies in computational modelling, biomaterials, and additive manufacturing. Expected outcome ....Interface structures mediating load transfer between soft and hard tissues. This project aims to develop a novel technology platform to mediate load transfer between synthetic and biological materials with dissimilar mechanical properties, creating an effective interface mechanism. It will generate new knowledge in materials engineering by combining interdisciplinary expertise and state-of-the-art technologies in computational modelling, biomaterials, and additive manufacturing. Expected outcomes are high-tech ceramic structures optimized to interface effectively between synthetic soft tissues and natural hard tissues. This could ultimately benefit Australian industry engaged in developing next-generation synthetic orthopaedic solutions, providing a significant competitive advantage in an expanding global market.Read moreRead less
3D printing of titanium alloys for better than forged mechanical properties. This project represents a potential milestone in the development of three-dimensional printing of titanium alloys by selective laser melting. The purpose of this project is to develop essential fundamental knowledge and novel processing routes for three-dimensional printing of titanium alloys to ensure the achievement of better than forged mechanical properties for critical applications. The outcomes of the project are ....3D printing of titanium alloys for better than forged mechanical properties. This project represents a potential milestone in the development of three-dimensional printing of titanium alloys by selective laser melting. The purpose of this project is to develop essential fundamental knowledge and novel processing routes for three-dimensional printing of titanium alloys to ensure the achievement of better than forged mechanical properties for critical applications. The outcomes of the project are expected to enable access to new markets and supply chains, improve Australia's competitively advantage and national research strength in this critical sector of manufacturing, and enhance the long-term viability of Australia's resources and manufacturing industries.Read moreRead less
Novel plastics using renewable signal chemistry to remove bacteria in water. This project plans to develop synthetic plastic surfaces that continuously generate nitric oxide to deter the formation of biofilms. Plastic surfaces exposed to aqueous environments rapidly become covered by a film of bacteria, which can cause infection. Trace levels of generated nitric oxide can combat this problem by breaking up existing bacterial biofilms. Current research has developed plastics that continuously gen ....Novel plastics using renewable signal chemistry to remove bacteria in water. This project plans to develop synthetic plastic surfaces that continuously generate nitric oxide to deter the formation of biofilms. Plastic surfaces exposed to aqueous environments rapidly become covered by a film of bacteria, which can cause infection. Trace levels of generated nitric oxide can combat this problem by breaking up existing bacterial biofilms. Current research has developed plastics that continuously generate nitric oxide, but not for extended periods of time. This project’s approach is significant because it avoids bacterial resistance to the nitric oxide treatment. Applications of this technology may include removing biofilms from environments such as water filtration devices and consumable medical surfaces.Read moreRead less
A new class of titanium alloys developed for additive manufacturing. This project aims to develop a new class of (Ti-Cu)-based alloys featuring high strength, high toughness, and high hydrogen-embrittlement resistance specifically for additive manufacturing (AM). This project expects to generate new knowledge of grain refinement and phase transformations in dynamic temperature field of metal AM process and to solve the common weakness – strong mechanical anisotropy and poor fatigue life – of AM ....A new class of titanium alloys developed for additive manufacturing. This project aims to develop a new class of (Ti-Cu)-based alloys featuring high strength, high toughness, and high hydrogen-embrittlement resistance specifically for additive manufacturing (AM). This project expects to generate new knowledge of grain refinement and phase transformations in dynamic temperature field of metal AM process and to solve the common weakness – strong mechanical anisotropy and poor fatigue life – of AM Ti components. The expected outcomes include a whole set of processing maps of AM (Ti-Cu)-based alloys tailored to demanding applications. This should provide significant benefits to aerospace, marine and biomedical industries by delivering better durability, sustainability, and cost-effectiveness.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE210101503
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$420,590.00
Summary
Developing new, high-performance titanium alloys by metal 3D printing. This project aims to develop a new class of titanium alloys by 3D metal printing that have excellent mechanical properties. The project expects to develop the knowledge to overcome the problems of conventional titanium alloys that have undesirably coarse columnar-grained microstructures. The expected outcome is a new design strategy for the use of 3D printing to make metal alloys This should lead to the widespread adoption of ....Developing new, high-performance titanium alloys by metal 3D printing. This project aims to develop a new class of titanium alloys by 3D metal printing that have excellent mechanical properties. The project expects to develop the knowledge to overcome the problems of conventional titanium alloys that have undesirably coarse columnar-grained microstructures. The expected outcome is a new design strategy for the use of 3D printing to make metal alloys This should lead to the widespread adoption of 3D metal printing for the production of structural parts for which reliably high-quality mechanical properties are of the utmost importance, and could transform the use of titanium in the biomedical and aerospace industries.Read moreRead less
A novel approach to the design and fabrication of biomimetic and biocompatible Ti-Ta implants by additive manufacturing. A large number of the Australian population suffer various types of bone issues arising from either age-related degenerative bone problems or injuries from accidents, sports and other activities. As the number of joint replacements performed in Australia increases, it is important to reduce the rate of implant failure. This project aims to address this critical issue by combin ....A novel approach to the design and fabrication of biomimetic and biocompatible Ti-Ta implants by additive manufacturing. A large number of the Australian population suffer various types of bone issues arising from either age-related degenerative bone problems or injuries from accidents, sports and other activities. As the number of joint replacements performed in Australia increases, it is important to reduce the rate of implant failure. This project aims to address this critical issue by combining unique multi-scale structural design, alloy development, 3D printing, modelling and tissue engineering to develop bone-like biomimetic titanium implants with superior structural, mechanical and biological compatibility with bone. The outcomes aim to contribute to both healthcare and manufacturing industries, as well as improving the quality of life for Australians.Read moreRead less
Innovative aluminium extrusion: increased productivity through simulation. This project seeks to develop new approaches to increase the productivity and competitiveness of the Australian aluminium extrusion industry. The project will use customised simulation software to optimise the design of extrusion dies, thereby substantially reducing the time and cost of developing new extrusion dies. It intends to similarly optimise the processing conditions for high quality extrusion, further contributin ....Innovative aluminium extrusion: increased productivity through simulation. This project seeks to develop new approaches to increase the productivity and competitiveness of the Australian aluminium extrusion industry. The project will use customised simulation software to optimise the design of extrusion dies, thereby substantially reducing the time and cost of developing new extrusion dies. It intends to similarly optimise the processing conditions for high quality extrusion, further contributing to cost reduction. Anticipated project outcomes include fundamental models of material deformation behaviour and damage accumulation that, through computer simulation, will increase die life and reduce scrap.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE160100260
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$375,000.00
Summary
Improved quality and lower cost titanium with microstructural refinement. This project seeks to determine the nucleation mechanisms operating during solidification of titanium alloys and discover potent nucleant particles that control the solidified grain size. Titanium is desirable for many applications but is difficult and expensive to manufacture into products. Understanding the nucleation process during the liquid-to-solid transformation of metals is fundamental to developing quality solidif ....Improved quality and lower cost titanium with microstructural refinement. This project seeks to determine the nucleation mechanisms operating during solidification of titanium alloys and discover potent nucleant particles that control the solidified grain size. Titanium is desirable for many applications but is difficult and expensive to manufacture into products. Understanding the nucleation process during the liquid-to-solid transformation of metals is fundamental to developing quality solidified products. The new technology seeks to lift productivity by simplifying manufacturing processes such as shape casting; improve the quality of solidified products produced by casting, welding and 3D printing; expand the application of 3D printing to a broader range of products; and reduce the cost and environmental impact of products produced by wrought processes.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE190100311
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$360,000.00
Summary
Multidirectional stretchable and wearable tactile sensors. This project aims to establish a new platform for multidirectional wearable tactile sensors with high sensitivity and stretchability based on rational material designs and structural engineering. Wearable tactile sensors with multidirectional force-sensing capabilities are of great importance in robotics, prosthetics, and rehabilitation devices. This novel form of tactile sensing will be developed through fundamental research into the wo ....Multidirectional stretchable and wearable tactile sensors. This project aims to establish a new platform for multidirectional wearable tactile sensors with high sensitivity and stretchability based on rational material designs and structural engineering. Wearable tactile sensors with multidirectional force-sensing capabilities are of great importance in robotics, prosthetics, and rehabilitation devices. This novel form of tactile sensing will be developed through fundamental research into the working mechanism of directional sensors to enable detection of different force intensities. Combined with new device fabrication techniques, and innovative material structural engineering, the expected outcome is a new multidirectional tactile sensor system with high sensitivity and stretchability.Read moreRead less