Securing Longevity of Reinforced Concrete Infrastructure Through Enhanced Cathodic Protection Design. The sustainability of Australia's extensive maritime infrastructure is impaired by corrosion, causing ongoing rehabilitation and reduced service life. Cathodic protection (CP) is most widely used to restore corrosion-damaged concrete, however the design principles are debated and uncertainty exists on how ongoing performance should be monitored. Australian Industry will benefit from: (i) Less ex ....Securing Longevity of Reinforced Concrete Infrastructure Through Enhanced Cathodic Protection Design. The sustainability of Australia's extensive maritime infrastructure is impaired by corrosion, causing ongoing rehabilitation and reduced service life. Cathodic protection (CP) is most widely used to restore corrosion-damaged concrete, however the design principles are debated and uncertainty exists on how ongoing performance should be monitored. Australian Industry will benefit from: (i) Less expenditure and disruption to operations of key infrastructure; (ii) More sustainable maritime infrastructure requiring less labour, time and capital expenditure on inspection, testing, maintenance and rehabilitation works;(iii)Availability of experts with advanced training in CP of reinforced concrete; (iv) Update Australian CP Standard AS 2832.5-2002Read moreRead less
Smart Materials Between Two and Three Dimensions. Shape-memory alloys involving martensitic transformations, are important as smart materials. Both the transformation nucleation and the sample morphology are unsolved issues relevant for these applications. Of particular note are the softening of certain lattice-vibrational frequencies, the development of a tweed-like microstructure on cooling the material and the role of defects, particularly the sample surface, in the transformation process. ....Smart Materials Between Two and Three Dimensions. Shape-memory alloys involving martensitic transformations, are important as smart materials. Both the transformation nucleation and the sample morphology are unsolved issues relevant for these applications. Of particular note are the softening of certain lattice-vibrational frequencies, the development of a tweed-like microstructure on cooling the material and the role of defects, particularly the sample surface, in the transformation process. This project addresses these issues using model materials in thin-film and bulk-crystal forms. Capacitance dilatometry, optical, electron and scanning-probe microscopies, and x-ray techniques, will unlock an understanding of the physical and metallurgical conditions controlling these transformations.Read moreRead less
Increasing solid electrolyte conductivity through defect design. This project aims to engineer electrolyte materials, based on organic ionic plastic crystals, and use isomeric doping to improve the ionic conductivity. The development of safer batteries relies on eliminating the volatile and flammable solvents commonly used as the electrolyte. Improving the safety and performance of batteries is important as electricity costs increase. Solid state ionic electrolytes can address leakage and volati ....Increasing solid electrolyte conductivity through defect design. This project aims to engineer electrolyte materials, based on organic ionic plastic crystals, and use isomeric doping to improve the ionic conductivity. The development of safer batteries relies on eliminating the volatile and flammable solvents commonly used as the electrolyte. Improving the safety and performance of batteries is important as electricity costs increase. Solid state ionic electrolytes can address leakage and volatility problems, but the conductivity must be improved if these materials are to support high battery power. The project’s electrolyte materials can be used in lithium metal batteries, which have higher theoretical energy densities than traditional lithium ion batteries. This project will develop new solid state electrolytes, with improved conductivity, and use these materials in emerging lithium battery technologies.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0239650
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$500,000.00
Summary
Advanced instrumentation for nano-scale imaging and analysis. It is widely accepted that the emerging fields of Nanotechnology and Nanoengineering will dominate research activity in a wide range of disciplines over the next decade. Progress in nanoscience and technology requires parallel development in nanocharacterisation and nanofabrication techniques. This proposal seeks to enhance the level of research infrastructure support for nano-scale microscopy and microanalysis at UTS and the Univer ....Advanced instrumentation for nano-scale imaging and analysis. It is widely accepted that the emerging fields of Nanotechnology and Nanoengineering will dominate research activity in a wide range of disciplines over the next decade. Progress in nanoscience and technology requires parallel development in nanocharacterisation and nanofabrication techniques. This proposal seeks to enhance the level of research infrastructure support for nano-scale microscopy and microanalysis at UTS and the University of Sydney by providing the following advanced instrumentation for nano-scale imaging, analysis and manipulation of materials:
- A Schottky field emission gun environmental scanning electron microscope
- Equipment kit for the rapid preparation of high quality transmission electron microscope specimens.Read moreRead less
Mechanisms for Improved Ductility of Magnesium Alloys. The work will lead to more ductile magnesium alloys. These alloys will be more readily formed into automotive components. The lighter cars that will result will be cheaper to run and more environmentally friendly. The exchange of key researchers that will occur under this proposal will provide an exciting injection of expertise into the partner organisations from which students will greatly benefit. The work will also open up access to state ....Mechanisms for Improved Ductility of Magnesium Alloys. The work will lead to more ductile magnesium alloys. These alloys will be more readily formed into automotive components. The lighter cars that will result will be cheaper to run and more environmentally friendly. The exchange of key researchers that will occur under this proposal will provide an exciting injection of expertise into the partner organisations from which students will greatly benefit. The work will also open up access to state-of-the-art equipment in the collaborating laboratories.Read moreRead less
Development of SmCo-based High Temperature Permanent Magnets: Microstructure and Coercivity Mechanism. This project is to develop high performance permanent magnets for elevated temperature applications. Microstructure and magnetic properties will be examined using atom probe, TEM, XRD and magnetometry. The specific atom probe is the state-of-the-art technique for the characterization of nanostructure and falls in the designated National Research Priority 3, PG2 Frontier Technologies (nanotechno ....Development of SmCo-based High Temperature Permanent Magnets: Microstructure and Coercivity Mechanism. This project is to develop high performance permanent magnets for elevated temperature applications. Microstructure and magnetic properties will be examined using atom probe, TEM, XRD and magnetometry. The specific atom probe is the state-of-the-art technique for the characterization of nanostructure and falls in the designated National Research Priority 3, PG2 Frontier Technologies (nanotechnology). The magnet alloys concerned are an example of Advanced Materials (NRP3, PG3), possessing the best performance amongst such functional materials. The expertise gained in the use of the atom probe technique in this project will have broader applications in the study of nanostructured materials and other metal alloy problems within Australia.Read moreRead less
Engineering the kinetic stability of alloys for advanced stainless material development. A framework for understanding and designing metals and alloys with kinetic stability in mind will allow for discovery and breakthrough science to underpin technological innovation. This work has potential benefits for multiple industry sectors, with the ultimate intent of developing advanced materials for use in transport, construction, energy generation and medicine; all sectors of which can improve our qua ....Engineering the kinetic stability of alloys for advanced stainless material development. A framework for understanding and designing metals and alloys with kinetic stability in mind will allow for discovery and breakthrough science to underpin technological innovation. This work has potential benefits for multiple industry sectors, with the ultimate intent of developing advanced materials for use in transport, construction, energy generation and medicine; all sectors of which can improve our quality of life, whilst also addressing the multi-billion dollars of loss attributed to metallic corrosion each year. Such work will also benefit Australia through the development of a strategic international capability in a highly interdisciplinary field.Read moreRead less
Exploring piezoelectricity of two-dimensional nanocrystals and nanodevices. This project aims to study piezoelectricity in two-dimensional (2D) nanocrystals and nano-devices. This project expects to result in the formulation of new 2D piezoelectric, ferroelectric and multiferroic theory, syntheses of 2D crystals and exploration of their functionalities, which are directly implemented in innovative electronic and photonic components. This will contribute to the advancement of both new 2D multifun ....Exploring piezoelectricity of two-dimensional nanocrystals and nanodevices. This project aims to study piezoelectricity in two-dimensional (2D) nanocrystals and nano-devices. This project expects to result in the formulation of new 2D piezoelectric, ferroelectric and multiferroic theory, syntheses of 2D crystals and exploration of their functionalities, which are directly implemented in innovative electronic and photonic components. This will contribute to the advancement of both new 2D multifunctional materials and new nanodevice structures which may open up unprecedented opportunities for both scientific and technological endeavoursRead moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0560705
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$825,000.00
Summary
Advanced Deformation Simulation Laboratory. For Australia to maintain its position as a world leader in the science of metals processing it must have the capability for state-of-the-art physical simulation. The present proposal is for the purchase and installation of two leading edge simulation tools: a high rate/short inter-pass hot deformation simulator and a hot equal channel angular extrusion press. Advanced hot deformation simulation is required for the development and optimisation of "fast ....Advanced Deformation Simulation Laboratory. For Australia to maintain its position as a world leader in the science of metals processing it must have the capability for state-of-the-art physical simulation. The present proposal is for the purchase and installation of two leading edge simulation tools: a high rate/short inter-pass hot deformation simulator and a hot equal channel angular extrusion press. Advanced hot deformation simulation is required for the development and optimisation of "fast" industrial processes and for understanding the complex microstructural reactions associated with them. High temperature extrusion is required for the development of ultra-fine and nano-grained light metals.Read moreRead less
Development of ultrafine Grained Steels. This project will develop new methods to produce steels with much finer microstructures, and investigate how these microstructures form. This will markedly increase the strength and toughness of these steels, which is particularly required for the pipeline, off shore platform and large construction industries. The method to be used involves controlling the hot deformation of the steel and control of the phase transformation during or after deformation. ....Development of ultrafine Grained Steels. This project will develop new methods to produce steels with much finer microstructures, and investigate how these microstructures form. This will markedly increase the strength and toughness of these steels, which is particularly required for the pipeline, off shore platform and large construction industries. The method to be used involves controlling the hot deformation of the steel and control of the phase transformation during or after deformation. Current work has shown that it is possible to reduce the grain size from 5 to 1microns using quite simple methods.Read moreRead less