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Controlling density, viscosity and crystallisation in emulsion explosives to enhance safety and efficiency of blasting operations. The performance of emulsion explosives used throughout the mining industry can be severely compromised by the effects of shear arising from pumping and detonation shock waves. Understanding how shear affects droplet coalescence and crystallisation is critical in differential energy blasting, where emulsion density and composition vary widely along the bore hole. This ....Controlling density, viscosity and crystallisation in emulsion explosives to enhance safety and efficiency of blasting operations. The performance of emulsion explosives used throughout the mining industry can be severely compromised by the effects of shear arising from pumping and detonation shock waves. Understanding how shear affects droplet coalescence and crystallisation is critical in differential energy blasting, where emulsion density and composition vary widely along the bore hole. This project aims to contribute to the understanding of the effects of shear, and develop new methods and additives to stabilise droplets and bubbles over a wide range of compositions and conditions. The goal of this project is to improve the efficiency and safety of rock-blasting operations, reduce environmental impact, and reduce operating costs, giving the Australian mining industry a competitive edge.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0989068
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$637,120.00
Summary
Equipment for Metastable Induced Electron Spectroscopy: surface analysis with excellent surface sensitivity. One of the major research strengths of Australia is surface science as it is important for both fundamental and industry related research. In many cases it is crucial to investigate the outermost layer of a material or mineral. Metastable Induced Electron Spectroscopy is an ideal technique as it is sensitive exclusively to the outermost layer of a broad range of samples. The information g ....Equipment for Metastable Induced Electron Spectroscopy: surface analysis with excellent surface sensitivity. One of the major research strengths of Australia is surface science as it is important for both fundamental and industry related research. In many cases it is crucial to investigate the outermost layer of a material or mineral. Metastable Induced Electron Spectroscopy is an ideal technique as it is sensitive exclusively to the outermost layer of a broad range of samples. The information gained is not accessible by any other method. The proposed equipment will be the first of this type in Australia and will complement existing surface science facilities. The project will enhance Australia's position in surface science internationally and a large number of projects will benefit from access to the equipment.Read moreRead less
Gas phase studies of reactive organic radicals: a novel approach using mass spectrometry. Radical reactions play a crucial role in a range of important chemistries, ranging from the formation of photochemical smog to the accumulation of pathogens in the ageing body. Despite their importance, the reactions of many radicals are poorly understood because of current experimental limitations. In this project we propose to develop two new and broadly applicable techniques for probing radical chemistry ....Gas phase studies of reactive organic radicals: a novel approach using mass spectrometry. Radical reactions play a crucial role in a range of important chemistries, ranging from the formation of photochemical smog to the accumulation of pathogens in the ageing body. Despite their importance, the reactions of many radicals are poorly understood because of current experimental limitations. In this project we propose to develop two new and broadly applicable techniques for probing radical chemistry in the gas phase via novel applications of mass spectrometry. Combined with quantum chemical calculations and state-of-the-art thermodynamic measurements these methods will provide a comprehensive understanding of the reactivity of key organic radicals.Read moreRead less
Nanotribology and Nanorheometry: A Fundamental Study of the Dynamic Interactions of Particles and Surfaces at the Molecular Level. Friction and deformation occur from the mutual motion and interaction of microscopic particles and surfaces. This research aims to develop new theories and measurement techniques for these non-equilibrium phenomena by combining mathematical analysis and numerical computations with dynamic force measurement, surface modification, and surface characterisation on nanom ....Nanotribology and Nanorheometry: A Fundamental Study of the Dynamic Interactions of Particles and Surfaces at the Molecular Level. Friction and deformation occur from the mutual motion and interaction of microscopic particles and surfaces. This research aims to develop new theories and measurement techniques for these non-equilibrium phenomena by combining mathematical analysis and numerical computations with dynamic force measurement, surface modification, and surface characterisation on nanometre and molecular length scales. These insights and data will be critically important in designing low-friction surfaces that save energy and wear, in developing nanoscopic probes for the mechanical and structural properties of soft polymeric and bio-materials, and in making high performance coatings that control adhesion and particle aggregation in technologically advanced applications.Read moreRead less
Molecules as probes of the interstellar medium. It is one of the greatest challenges in Nature is to remotely identify what is in space. Interstellar molecules are identified by their spectra, but many features in these spectra are unknown, implying that there are many more molecules in space than we know about. With a stronger understanding of space chemistry, we could predict what should be there and verify it in the lab. Conversely, identification of these features will provide the tools to u ....Molecules as probes of the interstellar medium. It is one of the greatest challenges in Nature is to remotely identify what is in space. Interstellar molecules are identified by their spectra, but many features in these spectra are unknown, implying that there are many more molecules in space than we know about. With a stronger understanding of space chemistry, we could predict what should be there and verify it in the lab. Conversely, identification of these features will provide the tools to understand interstellar chemistry. In this project we combine skills in spectroscopy and astronomy to make these molecules in the laboratory, measure their spectra and thereby identify unknown molecules in space.Read moreRead less
Optical Spectroscopy of Extraterrestrial Molecules. Space is not empty. In the vast regions between stars is a complex soup of molecules. Some of these molecules get incorporated into meteorites and find their way to Earth where they can be identified. Analysis has yielded amino acids; the building blocks of life, but these molecules do not match what we know about the interstellar regions. Interstellar molecules are identified by their spectra, but many features in these spectra are unknown. ....Optical Spectroscopy of Extraterrestrial Molecules. Space is not empty. In the vast regions between stars is a complex soup of molecules. Some of these molecules get incorporated into meteorites and find their way to Earth where they can be identified. Analysis has yielded amino acids; the building blocks of life, but these molecules do not match what we know about the interstellar regions. Interstellar molecules are identified by their spectra, but many features in these spectra are unknown. Could they be caused by the missing molecules? In this project we combine the skills of three spectroscopists, each expert in different areas, in an attempt to make these molecules in the laboratory, measure their spectra and thereby identify these unknown molecules that are in space.Read moreRead less
The forgotten role of the ground state in atmospheric photochemistry. This project aims to provide novel solutions to two deficiencies in current atmospheric chemistry models. That is, molecular hydrogen (H2) is underestimated by up to a factor of two, and in polluted areas, HO2 concentrations are underestimated by up to a factor of ten. The project will investigate these solutions and assess their local and global atmospheric impact. By better characterising the atmospheric H2 budget, and the r ....The forgotten role of the ground state in atmospheric photochemistry. This project aims to provide novel solutions to two deficiencies in current atmospheric chemistry models. That is, molecular hydrogen (H2) is underestimated by up to a factor of two, and in polluted areas, HO2 concentrations are underestimated by up to a factor of ten. The project will investigate these solutions and assess their local and global atmospheric impact. By better characterising the atmospheric H2 budget, and the role of ground state reactions in general, the predictive ability of atmospheric models will be improved. This will allow, for example, the outcomes of any change in atmospheric H2 concentration, potentially as part of any future hydrogen economy, to be predicted before they occur. The benefits of this project are global: they allow us to better predict the impact of changes to atmospheric composition – before they occur, and local: Australia’s strengths in physical, theoretical and atmospheric chemistry are reinforced.Read moreRead less
Biomolecular chemical survival strategies of terrestrial extremophiles and the spectroscopic search for life on Mars. This project is aimed to place Australian research at the forefront of developments in the search for extraterrestrial life, the evolution of life on earth, and the design of new probes for the identification of microorganisms. The research will link key centres in Australia and the UK with international space agencies (NASA and the European Space Agency) in the search for cutti ....Biomolecular chemical survival strategies of terrestrial extremophiles and the spectroscopic search for life on Mars. This project is aimed to place Australian research at the forefront of developments in the search for extraterrestrial life, the evolution of life on earth, and the design of new probes for the identification of microorganisms. The research will link key centres in Australia and the UK with international space agencies (NASA and the European Space Agency) in the search for cutting edge techniques to be used in the search for extraterrestrial life forms and their links to paleo and extremophile life forms on Earth. Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE180100060
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$563,390.00
Summary
Shared picosecond-laser facility. This project aims to extend the Shared Picosecond Laser Facility to include picosecond-pulse technology and to incorporate new consortium members. The Facility, shared among members at four universities and building on over 23 years of collaboration, continues to provide access to state-of-the-art lasers. The Facility will take advantage of its bulk purchasing power to negotiate significant discounts, extended warranties and maintenance contracts. The new lasers ....Shared picosecond-laser facility. This project aims to extend the Shared Picosecond Laser Facility to include picosecond-pulse technology and to incorporate new consortium members. The Facility, shared among members at four universities and building on over 23 years of collaboration, continues to provide access to state-of-the-art lasers. The Facility will take advantage of its bulk purchasing power to negotiate significant discounts, extended warranties and maintenance contracts. The new lasers will enable access to picosecond timescales and facilitate complex multi-laser experiments in a wide variety of projects including reaction dynamics, materials chemistry and photovoltaics.Read moreRead less
Roaming around the Transition State: A New Mechanism of Chemical Reactions. Gas-phase reaction mechanisms are at the core of some of the most important problems facing Australia at present: atmospheric models for CO2 are central to climate change; models of isotope exchange are essential to learn about past climates from Antarctic ice cores; and models of combustion are used to optimise energy efficiency. The mechanisms used in these models rely on accurate chemistry. A newly discovered chemica ....Roaming around the Transition State: A New Mechanism of Chemical Reactions. Gas-phase reaction mechanisms are at the core of some of the most important problems facing Australia at present: atmospheric models for CO2 are central to climate change; models of isotope exchange are essential to learn about past climates from Antarctic ice cores; and models of combustion are used to optimise energy efficiency. The mechanisms used in these models rely on accurate chemistry. A newly discovered chemical mechanism has the potential to change many of the reactions that we currently use in these chemical models. This project will determine how important this new mechanism is, and what its impact is on gas-phase reaction models.Read moreRead less