Structure-Property Relationships of Polymers with Controlled Architecture. Mechanical properties of a polymer (e.g., how elastic it is and how it dissipates energy when compressed) govern how well it performs as an adhesive, or its behaviour when melted and shaped into a consumer item. This project aims to relate molecular architecture to mechanical properties, using new techniques which permit the creation of polymers wherein each architectural characteristic is separately controlled. This has ....Structure-Property Relationships of Polymers with Controlled Architecture. Mechanical properties of a polymer (e.g., how elastic it is and how it dissipates energy when compressed) govern how well it performs as an adhesive, or its behaviour when melted and shaped into a consumer item. This project aims to relate molecular architecture to mechanical properties, using new techniques which permit the creation of polymers wherein each architectural characteristic is separately controlled. This has the potential to develop fundamental understanding for structure-property relations for the type of branched polymers that are in common use in industry and for which adequate models do not currently exist.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
Blends of reactive plasticizers with thermoplastic composites for improved processing and properties. This proposal is directed at novel methods of enhancing the processibility, properties and applications of polymers and should have a significant economic impact on the $7 billion commodity polymer market for Australian polymer producers and polymer converters.
The project would also extend the research opportunities of students and researchers in the rapidly growing fields of nano-composites a ....Blends of reactive plasticizers with thermoplastic composites for improved processing and properties. This proposal is directed at novel methods of enhancing the processibility, properties and applications of polymers and should have a significant economic impact on the $7 billion commodity polymer market for Australian polymer producers and polymer converters.
The project would also extend the research opportunities of students and researchers in the rapidly growing fields of nano-composites and reactive polymer processing.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
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
Condition monitoring and process control of injection molding. Injection molding has been widely used in automotive industry and improvement of the productivity and quality of the products is very important for the injection molding production to be internationally competitive. The aim of this project is to develop a condition monitoring and process control system to monitor the key parameters of the injection molding processes, to optimise the design and process conditions, and consequently, to ....Condition monitoring and process control of injection molding. Injection molding has been widely used in automotive industry and improvement of the productivity and quality of the products is very important for the injection molding production to be internationally competitive. The aim of this project is to develop a condition monitoring and process control system to monitor the key parameters of the injection molding processes, to optimise the design and process conditions, and consequently, to more actively control the processes. This will lead to an more reliable process, improved productivity and production of higher quality of moldings.Read moreRead less
Supercritical CO2: A Clean, Green Reaction Medium for Novel Polymer Synthesis and Modification. This project will lead to the development of new macromolecular structures with application in many areas ranging from drug delivery to the microelectronics industry. More importantly, the processes used to manufacture these products will utilise supercritical CO2 - a clean, green processing technology that can totally remove the need for using environmentally-degrading, volatile organic solvents. The ....Supercritical CO2: A Clean, Green Reaction Medium for Novel Polymer Synthesis and Modification. This project will lead to the development of new macromolecular structures with application in many areas ranging from drug delivery to the microelectronics industry. More importantly, the processes used to manufacture these products will utilise supercritical CO2 - a clean, green processing technology that can totally remove the need for using environmentally-degrading, volatile organic solvents. The unique properties of scCO2 will be used to develop new polymer materials and processes. This technology will promote Australia's commitment towards greener industrial alternatives, while simultaneously strengthening our science and opening up new possibilities in the rapidly advancing area of nano-technology. Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0668517
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$220,000.00
Summary
Hyphenated techniques in polymer science and engineering. The collaborator's research capabilities will be greatly enhanced because the equipment will allow simultaneous measurements of various properties which can provide much more information than sequential experiments. Students will be able to undertake research with state-of-the-art equipment which will enhance their research careers and employment prospects. The resulting information will be invaluable to the development of polymer blends ....Hyphenated techniques in polymer science and engineering. The collaborator's research capabilities will be greatly enhanced because the equipment will allow simultaneous measurements of various properties which can provide much more information than sequential experiments. Students will be able to undertake research with state-of-the-art equipment which will enhance their research careers and employment prospects. The resulting information will be invaluable to the development of polymer blends with optimized morphology and mechanical properties; improved polymer processing techniques linked to how the structure and orientation develops; the development of new materials, including novel human tissue implants, from studies of the rheology and phase structure of a polymer during photopolymerization.Read moreRead less
Novel Tough Polymer Composites. Advanced composites are used in high value-added applications such as computer chip packaging and aerospace applications. In these applications epoxy systems are used despite their inherent brittleness. Much research has focused on toughening epoxy systems, but most tougheners cause a reduction in processing or material properties. This project focuses on developing novel epoxy tougheners during the polymerisation of the epoxy-based composite. Specifically we will ....Novel Tough Polymer Composites. Advanced composites are used in high value-added applications such as computer chip packaging and aerospace applications. In these applications epoxy systems are used despite their inherent brittleness. Much research has focused on toughening epoxy systems, but most tougheners cause a reduction in processing or material properties. This project focuses on developing novel epoxy tougheners during the polymerisation of the epoxy-based composite. Specifically we will use novel hyperbranched [star-like] polymers that have excellent processing properties, high reactivity for structure control and the ability to control toughening at the molecular and macroscopic level to produce novel technology for advanced composites.
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Development of Advanced Polymers from Recycled Industrial Plastics for Replacement of Virgin Resins. The main objective of this research program is to develop strategies and techniques to develop advanced polymeric materials obtained from recycled industrial plastics for replacement of virgin resins in industrial packaging. Studies show that only a very small amount of such plastic is reclaimed after industrial use. The research will include a comprehensive study of the life cycle of the indus ....Development of Advanced Polymers from Recycled Industrial Plastics for Replacement of Virgin Resins. The main objective of this research program is to develop strategies and techniques to develop advanced polymeric materials obtained from recycled industrial plastics for replacement of virgin resins in industrial packaging. Studies show that only a very small amount of such plastic is reclaimed after industrial use. The research will include a comprehensive study of the life cycle of the industrial packaging products, development of new blends of the recycled resins, and the application of these blends to manufacture good quality injection moulded and blow moulded products including new plastic pails and containers for industrial use.Read moreRead less