An investigation of the mechanism of lacquer adhesion failure on electrolytic tinplate. "Tin" cans used for food packaging are actually made from tin-plated steel and, in most cases, the metal is coated with a lacquer. This lacquer is required to protect the can from corrosion and the contents from taint. The incidence of adhesion failure between the metal and the lacquer has increased recently for unknown reasons, causing considerable economic loss. This project will investigate the mechanisms ....An investigation of the mechanism of lacquer adhesion failure on electrolytic tinplate. "Tin" cans used for food packaging are actually made from tin-plated steel and, in most cases, the metal is coated with a lacquer. This lacquer is required to protect the can from corrosion and the contents from taint. The incidence of adhesion failure between the metal and the lacquer has increased recently for unknown reasons, causing considerable economic loss. This project will investigate the mechanisms of adhesion failure and improve our fundamental understanding of the problem. The results will be used to enable the selection of process conditions and lacquers that are more robust and reduce the incidence of adhesion failure.Read moreRead less
Computational analysis and design of injection stretch blow-moulded polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles. There are approximately 2.5 billion containers made each year representing 80,000 tonnes of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) in Australia. A weight reduction of each PET container will have a significant economic benefit and an environmental impact. This project aims to develop an integrated and innovative computer-aided design technology for assisting manufacturing of injection stretch ....Computational analysis and design of injection stretch blow-moulded polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles. There are approximately 2.5 billion containers made each year representing 80,000 tonnes of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) in Australia. A weight reduction of each PET container will have a significant economic benefit and an environmental impact. This project aims to develop an integrated and innovative computer-aided design technology for assisting manufacturing of injection stretch moulded PET bottles by making full use of the up-to-date computational technologies. It is expected that the research will improve the competitiveness of Australian packaging industries by developing leading-edge technology and will enhance living environment in terms of optimally designing lightweight and structurally strong PET bottles.Read moreRead less
Modelling for Optimisation and Scale-up of the Multilayer Blown Film Process. Multilayered blown film plastic films play an important role in the food and packaging industry in Australia and SE Asia. This project aims to predict the polymer film properties for a large scale line based on experimental data from the pilot scale studies using limited quantities of polymer. This project will investigate the fundamental rheology of polymer resins and blends used for multilayered films and correlate ....Modelling for Optimisation and Scale-up of the Multilayer Blown Film Process. Multilayered blown film plastic films play an important role in the food and packaging industry in Australia and SE Asia. This project aims to predict the polymer film properties for a large scale line based on experimental data from the pilot scale studies using limited quantities of polymer. This project will investigate the fundamental rheology of polymer resins and blends used for multilayered films and correlate these to the operating parameters in pilot and industrial scales using blown-film models. The interrelationship between the models in two scales will result in reducing trial and error and will optimise production costs.Read moreRead less
Development and modelling of dust suppression technology. Over 50 per cent of Australia's export income is derived from industries that rely on bulk materials handling and processing. With greater throughputs and increasing integration of transport routes, ports and residential communities, more pressure is being placed on industry to control its dust emissions. There is an urgent need for Australia to invest in a more unified and scientific approach to develop and optimise dust suppression tech ....Development and modelling of dust suppression technology. Over 50 per cent of Australia's export income is derived from industries that rely on bulk materials handling and processing. With greater throughputs and increasing integration of transport routes, ports and residential communities, more pressure is being placed on industry to control its dust emissions. There is an urgent need for Australia to invest in a more unified and scientific approach to develop and optimise dust suppression technology for mining and export infrastructure. This project will help secure the sustainability of Australia's bulk exports by ensuring that products can be handled, conveyed and loaded safely and reliably. It will also reduce the risk of exposing workers and the community to unsafe concentrations of airborne dust.Read moreRead less
Development of Multilayered Packaging Materials with Controlled Barrier Properties. The project aims to develop advanced new material for multilayered packaging with high oxygen and moisture barrier properties for cost effective packaging applications. Poly Products currently imports and uses some polymer as its key component for controlling barrier property of their food packaging. However, the new nanostructured material when sandwiched between less expensive materials in a multilayered packag ....Development of Multilayered Packaging Materials with Controlled Barrier Properties. The project aims to develop advanced new material for multilayered packaging with high oxygen and moisture barrier properties for cost effective packaging applications. Poly Products currently imports and uses some polymer as its key component for controlling barrier property of their food packaging. However, the new nanostructured material when sandwiched between less expensive materials in a multilayered packaging film will yield excellent barrier properties, leading to extended shelf life of different food products. The new smart material will generate significant material saving and replace the imported polymer, and will secure export market of the product in Asia -Pacific region.Read moreRead less
Rapid Modelling, simulation and control for automated conveyor systems. Automated conveyor systems form part of the core infrastructure of Australia 's industrial and transportation sectors. New tools and methodologies are required to facilitate an urgent upgrade of these systems in order to combat heightened security risks and remain internationally competitive. Airport baggage handling will be researched, as the conveyor networks are highly complex in terms of control, decision-making and mode ....Rapid Modelling, simulation and control for automated conveyor systems. Automated conveyor systems form part of the core infrastructure of Australia 's industrial and transportation sectors. New tools and methodologies are required to facilitate an urgent upgrade of these systems in order to combat heightened security risks and remain internationally competitive. Airport baggage handling will be researched, as the conveyor networks are highly complex in terms of control, decision-making and modelling. The proposed simulation framework will allow the development of dynamic routing and distributed control algorithms to improve system robustness, efficiency and throughput. Innovative techniques in conceptual modelling and data analysis will make state-of-the-art simulation technology available for rapid deployment.Read moreRead less
Flexible and Printable Sensors for Early Detection of Food Spoilage . This project aims to develop a technological platform for the fabrication of flexible sensors that enable the detection of food spoilage and life threatening microbial contamination. By engineering stimuli-responsive inks, colorimetric, chemiresistive, and impedimetric sensor arrays will be printed on flexible plastics and paper substrates. The printed sensor arrays will respond to gases and volatile compounds generated from f ....Flexible and Printable Sensors for Early Detection of Food Spoilage . This project aims to develop a technological platform for the fabrication of flexible sensors that enable the detection of food spoilage and life threatening microbial contamination. By engineering stimuli-responsive inks, colorimetric, chemiresistive, and impedimetric sensor arrays will be printed on flexible plastics and paper substrates. The printed sensor arrays will respond to gases and volatile compounds generated from food deterioration and spoilage, microbial pathogen, temperature and pH by a change in their colour or electrical properties, hence providing real-time measurements. The project will enable to design efficient data-driven decision making tools along the supply chain to enhance food safety and reduce food waste. Read moreRead less
Enabling secure and competitive air cargo systems. This research will make a valuable contribution towards raising security levels in Australia. Methodologies and tools that enable rapid modelling, analysis and ongoing decision making support will enable the Australian air cargo industry to efficiently implement emerging screening technologies, whilst remaining competitive.
Improved efficiency in air cargo facilities and distribution hubs will help maintain and improve productivity and reduce ....Enabling secure and competitive air cargo systems. This research will make a valuable contribution towards raising security levels in Australia. Methodologies and tools that enable rapid modelling, analysis and ongoing decision making support will enable the Australian air cargo industry to efficiently implement emerging screening technologies, whilst remaining competitive.
Improved efficiency in air cargo facilities and distribution hubs will help maintain and improve productivity and reduce time to market, despite increased security screening and rising fuel prices placing greater cost overheads on logistics networks.
This research will have international application and create valuable high technology export for Australia.Read moreRead less
Grown not extracted: high performance plant-based polymer packaging. This project aims to develop high performance, thermoformed paper-like materials to replace petroleum-derived plastic packaging. The materials are made using mechanically broken down waste cellulose fibres, which are then formed into shapes with added barrier layers. The grant aims to control the mechanical treatment for optimum performance, engineer the shape forming process and design laminate structures to produce packaging ....Grown not extracted: high performance plant-based polymer packaging. This project aims to develop high performance, thermoformed paper-like materials to replace petroleum-derived plastic packaging. The materials are made using mechanically broken down waste cellulose fibres, which are then formed into shapes with added barrier layers. The grant aims to control the mechanical treatment for optimum performance, engineer the shape forming process and design laminate structures to produce packaging materials, which have all the advantages of plastic packaging with none of the environmental drawbacks. The grant also aims to develop new methods to characterise these composites. The intended outcome is a new industry manufacturing renewable, biodegradable packaging in Australia.
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Reducing the health & economic burden of Campylobacter using a live vaccine. The aim of the project is to develop a vaccine to reduce Campylobacter bacteria in chickens. Campylobacters cause disease in both poultry and humans. Poultry products are the most common source of human infections. By reducing Campylobacter in poultry, the transfer to humans will be reduced. The expected outcomes arising from this work will be a reduction of the economic burden of poultry losses, in an Australian indust ....Reducing the health & economic burden of Campylobacter using a live vaccine. The aim of the project is to develop a vaccine to reduce Campylobacter bacteria in chickens. Campylobacters cause disease in both poultry and humans. Poultry products are the most common source of human infections. By reducing Campylobacter in poultry, the transfer to humans will be reduced. The expected outcomes arising from this work will be a reduction of the economic burden of poultry losses, in an Australian industry valued at $2.8 billion/year, and an improvement in food safety, thus helping to reduce the burden of foodborne illness, estimated to be $1.2 billion dollars/year. This project is, therefore, poised to benefit the Australian economy, specifically primary producers and the general public, by targeted vaccination of poultry.Read moreRead less