Characterisation and Stability of Thin Electrowetting Films. Electrowetting is of importance to numerous industrial, biomedical and daily life settings such as microfluidic biopharmaceutical applications, coating technology, electronic displays, optical focusing devices, miniaturised chemical analysis systems for homeland security, etc. The work, aimed at generating an understanding of the complex hydrodynamic and physicochemical processes involved, is fundamental research having generic benefit ....Characterisation and Stability of Thin Electrowetting Films. Electrowetting is of importance to numerous industrial, biomedical and daily life settings such as microfluidic biopharmaceutical applications, coating technology, electronic displays, optical focusing devices, miniaturised chemical analysis systems for homeland security, etc. The work, aimed at generating an understanding of the complex hydrodynamic and physicochemical processes involved, is fundamental research having generic benefits to researchers in interfacial science, electrokinetics and microfluidics. The results will also be beneficial to industrial workers in providing engineering protocols for the development of these devices by identifying optimal conditions for fluid manipulation without prone-to-wear mechanical components. Read moreRead less
Mechanics of mixed film lubrication in strip rolling. Rolling speeds of tandem cold rolling mills for thin steel strip are often limited by hot scratches and self excited chatter vibration, which forces the mill to slow down. Consequently the output is reduced and significant out-of-specification materials produced. Operating practices are guided by experience and trial-and-error method. In this project, a comprehensive model will be produced to quantify the effects of relevant parameters that c ....Mechanics of mixed film lubrication in strip rolling. Rolling speeds of tandem cold rolling mills for thin steel strip are often limited by hot scratches and self excited chatter vibration, which forces the mill to slow down. Consequently the output is reduced and significant out-of-specification materials produced. Operating practices are guided by experience and trial-and-error method. In this project, a comprehensive model will be produced to quantify the effects of relevant parameters that can provide a much better understanding of the rolling process at speeds higher than previously possible, and help to improve its productivity as well as product quality.Read moreRead less
Kinetic Control of Nanomaterial Assembly by Novel Polymerisable Surfactants. To build a competitive edge in the future Australian industries need to exploit the manipulation of matter at and near molecular length scales in order to create and use advanced nanostructured materials. In this project, using newly-discovered reactive surfactants we will develop novel methods for assembling and templating the formation of nanostructured polymeric and composite materials with a very broad range of pot ....Kinetic Control of Nanomaterial Assembly by Novel Polymerisable Surfactants. To build a competitive edge in the future Australian industries need to exploit the manipulation of matter at and near molecular length scales in order to create and use advanced nanostructured materials. In this project, using newly-discovered reactive surfactants we will develop novel methods for assembling and templating the formation of nanostructured polymeric and composite materials with a very broad range of potential applications. Australian postgraduate and postdoctoral researchers will be trained in advanced techniques for the creation and characterisation of self-assembled materials.Read moreRead less
Roll bite lubrication in hot strip rolling. Roll bite lubrication has been applied in hot strip rolling with significant cost savings in reduced rolling force, reduced roll wear and increasede productivity. However the mechanics of roll bite lubrication in the interface is not well understood due to the high temperature of the strip, scale oxide on the surfaces and contact asperities. It is known how the surface roughness is generated after rolling. This proposed project will develop a model to ....Roll bite lubrication in hot strip rolling. Roll bite lubrication has been applied in hot strip rolling with significant cost savings in reduced rolling force, reduced roll wear and increasede productivity. However the mechanics of roll bite lubrication in the interface is not well understood due to the high temperature of the strip, scale oxide on the surfaces and contact asperities. It is known how the surface roughness is generated after rolling. This proposed project will develop a model to simulate the roll bite lubrication process, to determine the roughness transfer from the roll surface to the strip surface, and optimise roll bite lubriation process.Read moreRead less
Contact mechanics in hot strip rolling. The mechanics of roll bite contact in hot strip rolling in the interface is not well understood due to the high temperature of the strip, scale oxide on the surfaces, contact asperities and lubrication mechanism of emulsion entrained in the roll bite. It is not known how the strip surface roughness is generated after rolling. This proposed project will develop a model to simulate the contact of the roll bite and to determine the quality of the surface roug ....Contact mechanics in hot strip rolling. The mechanics of roll bite contact in hot strip rolling in the interface is not well understood due to the high temperature of the strip, scale oxide on the surfaces, contact asperities and lubrication mechanism of emulsion entrained in the roll bite. It is not known how the strip surface roughness is generated after rolling. This proposed project will develop a model to simulate the contact of the roll bite and to determine the quality of the surface roughness transfer from the roll surface to the strip surface. The outcome would be significant cost savings in reduced rolling force, increased roll life, minimal surface defects and increased productivity.Read moreRead less
Tribological contact of work roll in hot rolling. Steel and aluminium manufacturers form their products by shaping a hot metal billet using, for example, presses and rollers which contact the rapidly cooling metal in the production line. The economic benefits of lubrication, reduced rolling force (up to 25%), reduced roll wear and extended roll life (up to 40%), reduced down time due to roll change, and better strip quality are very significant for these manufacturing processes. This comprehens ....Tribological contact of work roll in hot rolling. Steel and aluminium manufacturers form their products by shaping a hot metal billet using, for example, presses and rollers which contact the rapidly cooling metal in the production line. The economic benefits of lubrication, reduced rolling force (up to 25%), reduced roll wear and extended roll life (up to 40%), reduced down time due to roll change, and better strip quality are very significant for these manufacturing processes. This comprehensive program will provide new knowledge on lubrication and roll wear to help Australian manufacturing industry (e.g. steel and aluminium) to better understand and optimise their processes to achieve maximum benefits.Read moreRead less
Slippery when wet: lubrication with responsive polymers. Lubrication and friction of aqueous (water-based) systems is important in many industrial and biological contexts, such as oil and gas exploration, solid/liquid separation, bioimplants and therapeutic treatments for joints. The outcomes of this project will provide greater control of friction through the use of stimulus responsive polymers.
Nano-Rheology and Nano-Tribology: Atomistic Simulation of Boundary Lubrication. Manufacturing in atomic level is going to transform the efficiency level in many important applications. As molecular biology transformed medical and biological sciences,so molecular level material design and the techniques involved are going to significantly affect the engineering applications and manufacturing in coming decades. We have no doubt the benefits will flow from the project to many disciplines that are c ....Nano-Rheology and Nano-Tribology: Atomistic Simulation of Boundary Lubrication. Manufacturing in atomic level is going to transform the efficiency level in many important applications. As molecular biology transformed medical and biological sciences,so molecular level material design and the techniques involved are going to significantly affect the engineering applications and manufacturing in coming decades. We have no doubt the benefits will flow from the project to many disciplines that are critical in manufacturing and commercialisation of nano-devices. The results will position Australia in the forefront of one of the most important leading edge technologies in the world. This not only will improve Australia's research profile in the world but also will enable it to capitalize on any future commercial outcomesRead moreRead less
Green working liquids for an energy efficient future. Ionic liquids (ILs) have enormous potential as advanced materials due to their unusual properties. This project will develop ILs for use as energy efficient lubricants, electrochemical solvents and heat transfer fluids. These technologies will decrease Australia's energy consumption, reduce carbon dioxide emissions, and stimulate economic growth.
Nanostructured Ionic-Molecular Hybrid Liquids. This project aims to produce a new class of green, economical, non-toxic, low volatility, designer solvents from mixtures of one or more molecular components, and ionic liquid-inspired salts. By manipulating the intermolecular forces between components of these nanostructured ionic molecular "hybrid liquids" (HLs), we will develop new understanding of how liquid structure arises from the nano- to the colloidal and even micro-scale. HLs will enable ....Nanostructured Ionic-Molecular Hybrid Liquids. This project aims to produce a new class of green, economical, non-toxic, low volatility, designer solvents from mixtures of one or more molecular components, and ionic liquid-inspired salts. By manipulating the intermolecular forces between components of these nanostructured ionic molecular "hybrid liquids" (HLs), we will develop new understanding of how liquid structure arises from the nano- to the colloidal and even micro-scale. HLs will enable the development novel complex fluids, which are liquids containing interacting particles, polymers, and/or surfactants. Lubricants developed from HL based complex fluids will act as a “test-bed” application for the new understanding this project will engender, towards use of HLs in diverse areas.Read moreRead less