Condition Assessment of Medium-Voltage XLPE-Insulated Cables Degraded by Water Treeing. In Australia degraded underground XLPE cables are causing disruption of electricity supplies and high community costs. There is no reliable non-invasive technique for prediction of cable condition to optimise cable replacement and refurbishment. In this project a large-scale experiment will be undertaken on 22 kV cables to ascertain the effectiveness of a new cable refurbishment technology. New techniques for ....Condition Assessment of Medium-Voltage XLPE-Insulated Cables Degraded by Water Treeing. In Australia degraded underground XLPE cables are causing disruption of electricity supplies and high community costs. There is no reliable non-invasive technique for prediction of cable condition to optimise cable replacement and refurbishment. In this project a large-scale experiment will be undertaken on 22 kV cables to ascertain the effectiveness of a new cable refurbishment technology. New techniques for assessment of cable condition will be developed using unique data from the ageing experiment and computer models of fundamental phenomena. Successful conclusions from this project will save the industry partner and other electricity distribution companies tens of millions of dollars.Read moreRead less
Bioactive Polymers for Wound Healing Applications. VitroGroR is a growth factor complex which enhances cell growth and migration, and hence has great potential for treating wounds. Tissue Therapies, which holds the rights to commercialization of VitroGroR, is seeking to develop methods of delivering VitroGroR in its active form to the wound environment. Two solutions to this problem will be developed in this project; a bioactive bandage containing a novel combination of microspheres and a hydrog ....Bioactive Polymers for Wound Healing Applications. VitroGroR is a growth factor complex which enhances cell growth and migration, and hence has great potential for treating wounds. Tissue Therapies, which holds the rights to commercialization of VitroGroR, is seeking to develop methods of delivering VitroGroR in its active form to the wound environment. Two solutions to this problem will be developed in this project; a bioactive bandage containing a novel combination of microspheres and a hydrogel matrix, and secondly an in-situ polymerisable matrix for treatment of deep wounds. The growth factor complex will be protected from aggressive proteases through encapsulation within microspheres, and the use of MMP-inhibiting comonomers.Read moreRead less
Fatigue thresholds, crack initiation and small crack growth phenomenon in uPVC, mPVC and Oriented PVC pipes. Unplasticised polyvinylchloride (uPVC) is currently used for water reticulation pipelines. These are subject to variable pressure which can lead to fatigue failures. Improved materials, modified PVC (mPVC) and oriented PVC (oPVC), are now entering this market. uPVC shows a fatigue threshold when prenotched samples are tested. The fatigue threshold is an important design concept since it r ....Fatigue thresholds, crack initiation and small crack growth phenomenon in uPVC, mPVC and Oriented PVC pipes. Unplasticised polyvinylchloride (uPVC) is currently used for water reticulation pipelines. These are subject to variable pressure which can lead to fatigue failures. Improved materials, modified PVC (mPVC) and oriented PVC (oPVC), are now entering this market. uPVC shows a fatigue threshold when prenotched samples are tested. The fatigue threshold is an important design concept since it represents the stress amplitude below which fatigue failures should not occur. Its existence in unnotched pipes and in the newer PVC materials is uncertain. This project will quantify fatigue thresholds and the mechanisms involved in crack initiation in uPVC , mPVC and oPVC.Read moreRead less
Nanoporous Epoxy Thermosets via Microphase Separation of Block Copolymers. This project has many expected outcomes and benefits to Australia: (1) Development of the first technology to produce nanoporous epoxy thermosets (i.e. epoxy nanofoams) that may have many applications in microelectronics, optical waveguides and biological separations; (2) Providing impetus for an advanced materials synthesis and manufacturing industry for Australia and contributing to the Frontier Technologies National Re ....Nanoporous Epoxy Thermosets via Microphase Separation of Block Copolymers. This project has many expected outcomes and benefits to Australia: (1) Development of the first technology to produce nanoporous epoxy thermosets (i.e. epoxy nanofoams) that may have many applications in microelectronics, optical waveguides and biological separations; (2) Providing impetus for an advanced materials synthesis and manufacturing industry for Australia and contributing to the Frontier Technologies National Research Priority-Advanced Materials Priority Goals; (3) The development of new niche markets with these new materials and the new technologies, which is an excellent vehicle for Australia to move to a high-value added industrial portfolio that maximises return and promotes job growth.Read moreRead less
Photoactive Semiconducting Biopolymers. The basic aims of this project are to elucidate, manipulate, and utilise the unique chemical and physical properties of a class of biopolymers called the melanins. These materials are the only known solid state semiconducting biopolymers, and are non-toxic, biocompatible, and biodegradable. Their use as active components in biomimetic soft electonic, optoelectronic or photovoltaic devices, has not hitherto been demonstrated. It is anticipated that the k ....Photoactive Semiconducting Biopolymers. The basic aims of this project are to elucidate, manipulate, and utilise the unique chemical and physical properties of a class of biopolymers called the melanins. These materials are the only known solid state semiconducting biopolymers, and are non-toxic, biocompatible, and biodegradable. Their use as active components in biomimetic soft electonic, optoelectronic or photovoltaic devices, has not hitherto been demonstrated. It is anticipated that the key outcomes from the project will be a demonstration of biopolymer-based photoelectrochemical and solid-state p-i-n solar cells, and an improved understanding of the physics and chemistry of these important biological macromolecules.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0211003
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$125,000.00
Summary
A Facility for Probing Nanostructure in Polymers. The properties of a polymer are only partly determined by its molecular structure. It is now clear that the organization of molecular structure and phase morphology on a nano-scale has an equally important role in determining material behaviour. Increasingly this can be manipulated by judicious choice of formulation and processing variables. The polymer Nano-Structure Facility will bring together Australia's principal polymer experts in this a ....A Facility for Probing Nanostructure in Polymers. The properties of a polymer are only partly determined by its molecular structure. It is now clear that the organization of molecular structure and phase morphology on a nano-scale has an equally important role in determining material behaviour. Increasingly this can be manipulated by judicious choice of formulation and processing variables. The polymer Nano-Structure Facility will bring together Australia's principal polymer experts in this area of structure-property relations and provide them with shared access to the appropriate, modern analytical tools required to probe the nano-structure of such new materials with enhanced properties.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0883017
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$300,000.00
Summary
Advanced processing and characterisation facility for functional polymers and polymer nanofibres. The pilot-scale processing and advanced characterisation facility will significantly strengthen R&D capacity for innovative research and development of functional polymers and polymer nanofibres, hence adding value to the $10-billion plus market for plastics, rubber and biopolymers manufactured and used in Australia. It will further strengthen Australia's position in polymer and nanofibre research a ....Advanced processing and characterisation facility for functional polymers and polymer nanofibres. The pilot-scale processing and advanced characterisation facility will significantly strengthen R&D capacity for innovative research and development of functional polymers and polymer nanofibres, hence adding value to the $10-billion plus market for plastics, rubber and biopolymers manufactured and used in Australia. It will further strengthen Australia's position in polymer and nanofibre research and innovation.Read moreRead less
Functional Renewable Plastics: Developing Novel Polysaccharide, Protein and Natural Polyester Based Polymer Nanocomposites. Biopolymer based plastics (eg starch and proteins from plants; polylactic acid from wastes) are made from renewable sources and are readily biodegradable, making them good substitutes for synthetic plastics for uses like packaging and agricultural film.
Some biopolymer plastics properties (eg water migration barrier, strength) are not as high as synthetic plastics. Creat ....Functional Renewable Plastics: Developing Novel Polysaccharide, Protein and Natural Polyester Based Polymer Nanocomposites. Biopolymer based plastics (eg starch and proteins from plants; polylactic acid from wastes) are made from renewable sources and are readily biodegradable, making them good substitutes for synthetic plastics for uses like packaging and agricultural film.
Some biopolymer plastics properties (eg water migration barrier, strength) are not as high as synthetic plastics. Creating nano-biocomposites (biopolymer plastics mixed with low levels of nano particles) will improve the properties of biopolymer plastics, giving novel materials that can be substituted for synthetic plastics in a wider range of applications.
These products will reduce our environmental impact, and also create economic benefits from novel, high-value nano-biocomposites.Read moreRead less
Next generation bioplastics: Production of polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) bioplastics from organic waste. Production of next generation bioplastics by using waste as a resource supports an environmentally sustainable Australia and provides wide-ranging commercial opportunities for Australian businesses. Fundamental research in this field will provide a platform for creation of an Australian Centre of Excellence in PHA bioplastics, which will play an integral role in progressing research on sustainab ....Next generation bioplastics: Production of polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) bioplastics from organic waste. Production of next generation bioplastics by using waste as a resource supports an environmentally sustainable Australia and provides wide-ranging commercial opportunities for Australian businesses. Fundamental research in this field will provide a platform for creation of an Australian Centre of Excellence in PHA bioplastics, which will play an integral role in progressing research on sustainable materials development. The project will provide training and PhD education in environmental biotechnology, and direct commercial benefits to Australia by the development of significant Intellectual Property and linkage between an Australian University and leading players in environment technology commercialisation.Read moreRead less
Development of alternative barriers for protection of wooden structures from termites. This research aims to develop alternative barriers to those currently used for protection of wooden structures against termites. Barriers are essential to protect wooden structures. The current application of low persistence chemicals has proven to be unreliable since organochlorines were phased out. The cost of building and structural replacements due to termite damage in Australia amounts to millions of doll ....Development of alternative barriers for protection of wooden structures from termites. This research aims to develop alternative barriers to those currently used for protection of wooden structures against termites. Barriers are essential to protect wooden structures. The current application of low persistence chemicals has proven to be unreliable since organochlorines were phased out. The cost of building and structural replacements due to termite damage in Australia amounts to millions of dollars annually and will increase due to eventual failure of the organochlorine termiticides. Thus the proposed research seeks to evaluate polymer materials and coatings, including bonded materials as alternate barriers together with an assessment of risks to environment and health.Read moreRead less