Optimum control of the in-use performance of talc-based compositions. It is important to improve the quality of their Talcom body powder, baby powder and other cosmetic products involving talc. The areas that can and need to be improved are shining characteristics, assessing the slip properties as well as developing the cosmetic chemistry of talc and other additives. The proposed project will generate: a) simple but reliable test methods for measuring slip and shine, b) methods for control of t ....Optimum control of the in-use performance of talc-based compositions. It is important to improve the quality of their Talcom body powder, baby powder and other cosmetic products involving talc. The areas that can and need to be improved are shining characteristics, assessing the slip properties as well as developing the cosmetic chemistry of talc and other additives. The proposed project will generate: a) simple but reliable test methods for measuring slip and shine, b) methods for control of the physical and chemical characteristics of talc blends, c) mathematical model(s) for property and process control, which is useful to improvement of the final talc properties and in-use service.Read moreRead less
Polymers for Novel Surfactants. The aim of the proposed research is to develop novel surface-active polymers with complex architectures and more efficient strategies for the synthesis of surface-active polymers in general. We will exploit the polymerization characteristics of the novel catalytic chain transfer and radical addition-fragmentation transfer polymerization techniques to achieve polymerization control that has been virtually impossible hitherto. The proposed research will thus make ....Polymers for Novel Surfactants. The aim of the proposed research is to develop novel surface-active polymers with complex architectures and more efficient strategies for the synthesis of surface-active polymers in general. We will exploit the polymerization characteristics of the novel catalytic chain transfer and radical addition-fragmentation transfer polymerization techniques to achieve polymerization control that has been virtually impossible hitherto. The proposed research will thus make accessible a wide range of novel surface-active polymers that have been impossible to synthesise to date, and which we expect to be more efficient and hence leads to greener technologies.
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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
Water at Hydrophobic Surfaces. The properties of water define the nature of life on this planet. When water encounters a hydrophobic surface - at the air/water interface, in contact with unreactive solids such as Teflon, or at an oil drop, our recent experiments indicate that the water dissociates more readily into protons and hydroxide ions - undergoes autolysis - than in bulk water. Furthermore, the hydroxide ions are preferentially adsorbed at the surface, giving it a negative charge. This pr ....Water at Hydrophobic Surfaces. The properties of water define the nature of life on this planet. When water encounters a hydrophobic surface - at the air/water interface, in contact with unreactive solids such as Teflon, or at an oil drop, our recent experiments indicate that the water dissociates more readily into protons and hydroxide ions - undergoes autolysis - than in bulk water. Furthermore, the hydroxide ions are preferentially adsorbed at the surface, giving it a negative charge. This project will test the generality and implications of this novel concept. The results will range across physics, chemistry, biology and their associated technologies, a consequence of the ubiquitous importance of water. Read moreRead less
Fundamentals and applications of dynamic interfacial forces in soft matter. The proposed program will make an internationally significant contribution to the fundamental understanding of soft matter on the nanoscale. This has a direct impact upon processes that are key to a wide range of Australian industries ranging from the manufacture of functional foods to minerals recovery to pharmaceutical formulation, where innovative solutions can substantially improve productivity, increase export pote ....Fundamentals and applications of dynamic interfacial forces in soft matter. The proposed program will make an internationally significant contribution to the fundamental understanding of soft matter on the nanoscale. This has a direct impact upon processes that are key to a wide range of Australian industries ranging from the manufacture of functional foods to minerals recovery to pharmaceutical formulation, where innovative solutions can substantially improve productivity, increase export potential and reduce environmental impact. The outcomes of this work, in the form of high impact papers and conference presentations, will build and enhance Australia's reputation as a world leader in nanotechnology and colloid science. Read moreRead less
Sustainable surfactants from Australian oilseeds. This project aims to develop a new generation of sustainable surfactants utilising Australian-grown oilseed feedstocks. These molecules are designed to replace current materials made from petroleum and palm oil, to fulfil a key role as the next generation of bio-resourced detergents and emulsifiers. The work seek to develop a library of new molecules to better understand the relationship between molecular structure and performance, through cuttin ....Sustainable surfactants from Australian oilseeds. This project aims to develop a new generation of sustainable surfactants utilising Australian-grown oilseed feedstocks. These molecules are designed to replace current materials made from petroleum and palm oil, to fulfil a key role as the next generation of bio-resourced detergents and emulsifiers. The work seek to develop a library of new molecules to better understand the relationship between molecular structure and performance, through cutting edge lab testing and utilising national infrastructure, guiding the use of new components in formulating new products. It is anticipated that the surfactants generated will find uses in household cleaning and personal care products, providing high value chemicals from key Australian crops.Read moreRead less
Microgel thin films for controlled release. This project represents a real and timely opportunity for Australian research to take a leading position in the field of stimulus-responsive thin films. The potential applications of the targeted advanced coatings lie in areas for which Australia is already a significant world player (water treatment, biomaterial/implant coatings, sensors) and will add value to these industries. The development of these "smart" films will have commercial potential for ....Microgel thin films for controlled release. This project represents a real and timely opportunity for Australian research to take a leading position in the field of stimulus-responsive thin films. The potential applications of the targeted advanced coatings lie in areas for which Australia is already a significant world player (water treatment, biomaterial/implant coatings, sensors) and will add value to these industries. The development of these "smart" films will have commercial potential for "next generation" nanotechnology or biotechnology companies. The project will increase the momentum of an internationally competitive research partnership. The training of a research associate, PhD and honours students will lead to competitive employment for these burgeoning scientists.Read moreRead less
Self-assembly of gelling biopolymer particles. Biopolymers provide a renewable source of structuring agents for a variety of potential uses in food, pharmaceutical and other applications that require bio-compatibility. Swollen biopolymer particles of sub-millimetre size are particularly useful as they combine macroscopic structure formation with an ability to flow and a desirable soft solid texture. Two limitations to the current utilisation of biopolymer particles are that they either cannot be ....Self-assembly of gelling biopolymer particles. Biopolymers provide a renewable source of structuring agents for a variety of potential uses in food, pharmaceutical and other applications that require bio-compatibility. Swollen biopolymer particles of sub-millimetre size are particularly useful as they combine macroscopic structure formation with an ability to flow and a desirable soft solid texture. Two limitations to the current utilisation of biopolymer particles are that they either cannot be predictably produced direct from a dried form, or if they are (e.g. cooked starch granules), there is a lack of scientific understanding that limits use of natural sources without subsequent chemical modification. This project will provide the science & technology to overcome these limitations.Read moreRead less
Designer Surfactants for Creation of Emulsion Properties. We propose new approaches to the design of surfactants for stabilising water in oil emulsions. New block copolymer surfactants may be "tailored" for head group structure and a pre-chosen hydrophilic/lipophilic balance at the oil-water interface using the Australian developed RAFT polymer synthesis method and polymeric inorganic species. The proposers have an extensive background in these areas.
X-ray and neutron scattering techniques, de ....Designer Surfactants for Creation of Emulsion Properties. We propose new approaches to the design of surfactants for stabilising water in oil emulsions. New block copolymer surfactants may be "tailored" for head group structure and a pre-chosen hydrophilic/lipophilic balance at the oil-water interface using the Australian developed RAFT polymer synthesis method and polymeric inorganic species. The proposers have an extensive background in these areas.
X-ray and neutron scattering techniques, developed by us, allow the interfacial structure of the surfactant to be found and the intellectual "loop" closed in the design process. Preliminary screening will be done using the surface balance and bulk emulsion synthesis.Read moreRead less
High Internal Phase Emulsions - Structure and Rheology Control. Our first SPIRT Grant with ORICA Australia Ltd has successfully identified nanostructures in high internal phase emulsions which confer useful stability and robustness on these industrially important systems. The aim now is to ramify those discoveries both scientifically and technologically in the design of emulsion structure using our, now established, techniques. In particular, the objective is to control both nanoscale and mes ....High Internal Phase Emulsions - Structure and Rheology Control. Our first SPIRT Grant with ORICA Australia Ltd has successfully identified nanostructures in high internal phase emulsions which confer useful stability and robustness on these industrially important systems. The aim now is to ramify those discoveries both scientifically and technologically in the design of emulsion structure using our, now established, techniques. In particular, the objective is to control both nanoscale and mesoscale structure in emulsion formulation, as well as the rheology and stability of emulsion preparations. To do this we plan to use mixed surfactant systems and to study intersurfactant synergic effects on the structure and fluidity of the interfacial material. We believe that the proposed work is unique and that the outcomes will be scientifically novel and also valuable for Australian industry.Read moreRead less