Bioinspired interfaces for improved carbon fibre composite performance. Carbon fibre composites, where carbon fibres are embedded in a polymer matrix, are gradually replacing traditional materials such as steel. For example, composites make up 50 per cent of Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner, resulting in a 20 per cent improvement in fuel economy. There is significant scope for improving the damage tolerance of these materials. A fundamental lack of understanding around the fibre matrix interface currentl ....Bioinspired interfaces for improved carbon fibre composite performance. Carbon fibre composites, where carbon fibres are embedded in a polymer matrix, are gradually replacing traditional materials such as steel. For example, composites make up 50 per cent of Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner, resulting in a 20 per cent improvement in fuel economy. There is significant scope for improving the damage tolerance of these materials. A fundamental lack of understanding around the fibre matrix interface currently limits the development of new composite systems to overcome the problems with damage tolerance. This project takes inspiration from nature to develop a fundamental understanding of the interfaces within carbon fibre composites and optimise their behaviour via model-guided surface and interface engineering. Read moreRead less
Engineering Processable, Tough Hydrogels with Biological Activity. The project aims to design a new class of tough hydrogels to address issues in engineering complex soft and robust structures. These hydrogels have superior properties compared with current materials as they are biologically active, processable by various manufacturing techniques, elastic and have a capacity for rapid self-recovery that are ideal for soft tissues. Their physical property is tunable by modification of their compos ....Engineering Processable, Tough Hydrogels with Biological Activity. The project aims to design a new class of tough hydrogels to address issues in engineering complex soft and robust structures. These hydrogels have superior properties compared with current materials as they are biologically active, processable by various manufacturing techniques, elastic and have a capacity for rapid self-recovery that are ideal for soft tissues. Their physical property is tunable by modification of their compositions that enable construction of complex seamless structure such as valved conduit with anistropic property. Expected outcomes of this project include new insights into material design, multi-physics modelling, and multi-material additive manufacturing for broad applications in soft robotics and medical implants.Read moreRead less
Ultrahigh strength maraging titanium alloys for additive manufacturing . This project aims to pioneer an unprecedented class of ultrahigh-strength titanium alloys for 3D printing by capitalising on both the alloy design theory of ultrahigh-strength steels and the unique capability of laser-based 3D printing. The planned research expects to significantly advance the knowledge base of advanced metallic materials and metal 3D printing via atomistic level characterisation and systematic mechanical p ....Ultrahigh strength maraging titanium alloys for additive manufacturing . This project aims to pioneer an unprecedented class of ultrahigh-strength titanium alloys for 3D printing by capitalising on both the alloy design theory of ultrahigh-strength steels and the unique capability of laser-based 3D printing. The planned research expects to significantly advance the knowledge base of advanced metallic materials and metal 3D printing via atomistic level characterisation and systematic mechanical property evaluation in relation to specifically tailored 3D printing conditions. Expected outcomes include a group of ultrahigh-strength novel titanium alloys for 3D printing and a new alloy design theory. This should provide significant benefits to the manufacturing industry to support the national economy and security.Read moreRead less
A transformational approach to enabling the low cost fabrication of intricate titanium components. The high production cost of titanium components has been the central issue that inhibits the large-scale industrial applications of titanium and its alloys, despite their outstanding properties. This project aims to develop an innovative titanium hydride injection moulding process to enable the fabrication of intricate titanium components at low cost while ensuring excellent mechanical properties. ....A transformational approach to enabling the low cost fabrication of intricate titanium components. The high production cost of titanium components has been the central issue that inhibits the large-scale industrial applications of titanium and its alloys, despite their outstanding properties. This project aims to develop an innovative titanium hydride injection moulding process to enable the fabrication of intricate titanium components at low cost while ensuring excellent mechanical properties. The outcomes have the potential to transform the current manufacturing practice of small intricate titanium components for wide industrial applications. In addition, the project aims to create and deliver new advanced manufacturing technologies and skills urgently needed by the Australian industries for lifting productivity and economic growth.Read moreRead less
Computational alloy design for cold spray deposition. The aim of this project is to design a new generation of proprietary, high performance alloys and composites that are optimised for cold spray deposition. Cold spray is a new manufacturing technology that is used to create coatings for enhancement, repair, restoration and for additive manufacturing. Using a systems approach and by integrating experiment with computational models, this project will generate new knowledge for enhanced materials ....Computational alloy design for cold spray deposition. The aim of this project is to design a new generation of proprietary, high performance alloys and composites that are optimised for cold spray deposition. Cold spray is a new manufacturing technology that is used to create coatings for enhancement, repair, restoration and for additive manufacturing. Using a systems approach and by integrating experiment with computational models, this project will generate new knowledge for enhanced materials design. Partnering with Ruag Australia, a leading Defence aerospace supplier, the project will deliver a practical tool for the accelerated design of metal powders for cold spray and invent commercially useful advanced materials to improve the competitiveness of Australian manufacturing industry.Read moreRead less
A fast, eco-friendly approach to the fabrication of low cost high performance titanium components. The purpose of this project is to develop an innovative manufacturing approach by which the cost of titanium components can be substantially reduced. This will significantly increase the commercial applications of titanium and its alloys.
Novel micro-architecture-optimised metal lattice structures by 3D printing. This project aims to research and develop a novel methodology for the design and 3D printing of micro-architectured intricate metal lattice structures that can markedly expand the boundaries of both metal property space and structural forms. This will be achieved by harnessing the synergies across topology design, manufacturing optimisation, and in-situ microstructure control. The expected outcomes are a novel milestone ....Novel micro-architecture-optimised metal lattice structures by 3D printing. This project aims to research and develop a novel methodology for the design and 3D printing of micro-architectured intricate metal lattice structures that can markedly expand the boundaries of both metal property space and structural forms. This will be achieved by harnessing the synergies across topology design, manufacturing optimisation, and in-situ microstructure control. The expected outcomes are a novel milestone methodology that will benefit Australia by enabling a new wave of innovation in materials design and 3D printing, and a new class of lightweight intricate metal lattice structures that potentially offer exceptional mechanical and/or biological properties for near-term commercial applications.Read moreRead less
Unlocking the potential of low-cost beta-titanium alloys by three-dimensional printing. This project aims to reshape the design and fabrication of beta-titanium (beta-Ti) alloys that offer ultrahigh tensile strength and significant high cycle fatigue strength. It will exploit three-dimensional printing to enable the full use of Iron (Fe) and Chromium (Cr) as beta-stabilizers for Ti without segregation leading to beta-fleck defects. The outcomes of this project are expected to fundamentally chang ....Unlocking the potential of low-cost beta-titanium alloys by three-dimensional printing. This project aims to reshape the design and fabrication of beta-titanium (beta-Ti) alloys that offer ultrahigh tensile strength and significant high cycle fatigue strength. It will exploit three-dimensional printing to enable the full use of Iron (Fe) and Chromium (Cr) as beta-stabilizers for Ti without segregation leading to beta-fleck defects. The outcomes of this project are expected to fundamentally change the design and fabrication of ultrahigh-strength beta-Ti alloys and to significantly extend the capabilities of metal three-dimensional printing, as well as advancing the knowledge base of both metal three-dimensional printing and Ti alloys. They further provide a strategic solution to the manufacture of other similar engineering alloys in the broad field of metals.Read moreRead less
Design of reactive foils for joining amorphous alloys. Amorphous alloys or metallic glasses are special materials that retain the random structure of a liquid but in a solid form. They can show special properties of very high strength, toughness and corrosion resistance. The enormous difficulty in joining amorphous alloys to make larger assemblies is greatly curbing their uptake in technology. In this research, state of the art experimental and computational tools will be used to investigate the ....Design of reactive foils for joining amorphous alloys. Amorphous alloys or metallic glasses are special materials that retain the random structure of a liquid but in a solid form. They can show special properties of very high strength, toughness and corrosion resistance. The enormous difficulty in joining amorphous alloys to make larger assemblies is greatly curbing their uptake in technology. In this research, state of the art experimental and computational tools will be used to investigate the extremely fast high temperature reactions occurring in reactive foils of layered metals which, when inserted at the proposed join and ignited, quickly produce a bond. The research will lay the foundation for a robust and reliable means for joining amorphous alloys by means of reactive foils. Read moreRead less
Electrically conductive elastomeric composites by nanomaterials. Electrically conductive elastomeric composites by nanomaterials. This project aims to develop electrically conductive, mechanically robust, cost-effective elastomeric composites, by exploring new processing methods and studying the synergy between graphene sheets and multi-walled carbon nanotubes. Composites will be design, research and manufactured to suit the fabrication of rolling-resistance sensors that detect early-stage malfu ....Electrically conductive elastomeric composites by nanomaterials. Electrically conductive elastomeric composites by nanomaterials. This project aims to develop electrically conductive, mechanically robust, cost-effective elastomeric composites, by exploring new processing methods and studying the synergy between graphene sheets and multi-walled carbon nanotubes. Composites will be design, research and manufactured to suit the fabrication of rolling-resistance sensors that detect early-stage malfunctioning idler rolls. This technology could prevent the breakage of conveyor belts which are essential to the mining, processing and transportation of loose bulk materials; and improve the design and manufacturing of flexible sensors.Read moreRead less