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
Naturally Photoactive Biopolymers. The basic aim of this project is to assess the viability of using semiconducting biopolymers from the melanin family of macromolecules in photoactive device based applications. In order to do this, key optical, structural, electronic, and photochemical properties will be assessed on thin films in the solid state. The melanins are the only known semiconducting biopolymers, and are non-toxic, biocompatible and biodegradable. Their use as ?active? materials in ....Naturally Photoactive Biopolymers. The basic aim of this project is to assess the viability of using semiconducting biopolymers from the melanin family of macromolecules in photoactive device based applications. In order to do this, key optical, structural, electronic, and photochemical properties will be assessed on thin films in the solid state. The melanins are the only known semiconducting biopolymers, and are non-toxic, biocompatible and biodegradable. Their use as ?active? materials in solid state or photo-electrochemical devices has never before been suggested. Specifically, these materials could be used as the light harvesting components in dye sensitised Gratzel cells, or, as the donor material in soft solid photovoltaic junctions. The melanins are also a key class of biomolecules (their involvement in skin cancers is well documented), and hence, any advancement in our understanding of their functions and properties could have biological importance.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
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
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE190101176
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$407,000.00
Summary
High-performance flame retardant polymer foams by bioinspired nanocoating. This project aims to develop high-performance flame retardant polymer foams by creating a flame-retardant nanocoating on their surfaces based utilising layer-by-layer assembly. Polymer foams are widely used as thermal insulation materials for modern buildings because of their low density and excellent heat insulation. However they are highly flammable, which poses a great fire threat to life and property. The flame retard ....High-performance flame retardant polymer foams by bioinspired nanocoating. This project aims to develop high-performance flame retardant polymer foams by creating a flame-retardant nanocoating on their surfaces based utilising layer-by-layer assembly. Polymer foams are widely used as thermal insulation materials for modern buildings because of their low density and excellent heat insulation. However they are highly flammable, which poses a great fire threat to life and property. The flame retardancy, durability and wear-resistance of the resultant polymer foams will be tailored by manipulating the layer-by-layer construction parameters. The flame retardant polymer foams developed in this project will not only contribute to saving energy, but also to minimise the potential of fire hazards to life, property and the environment.Read moreRead less
Novel microwave processing of carbon nanotube/thermoplastic composites. This project aims to develop a novel fabrication process for carbon nano-tube (CNT) / thermoplastic composites. The method, with lab based ‘proof of concept’, uses microwaves and overcomes problems of dispersion and aggregation of CNTs, which limit properties of the nano-composites. At lab scale, a 50 per cent increase in stiffness of polypropylene and an increase in electrical conductivity with the addition of 0.5 weight pe ....Novel microwave processing of carbon nanotube/thermoplastic composites. This project aims to develop a novel fabrication process for carbon nano-tube (CNT) / thermoplastic composites. The method, with lab based ‘proof of concept’, uses microwaves and overcomes problems of dispersion and aggregation of CNTs, which limit properties of the nano-composites. At lab scale, a 50 per cent increase in stiffness of polypropylene and an increase in electrical conductivity with the addition of 0.5 weight percent CNT has been demonstrated. This project should unravel mechanisms by which these outstanding property improvements are achieved and will scale up the process to industrial level. Expected outcomes will be economical, lighter and stronger plastics for manufacturing applications such as rotational molding, transport and electronic packaging.Read moreRead less
High performance polymer fibres for recyclable composites . The project aims to develop novel drawn polymer fibres with aligned carbon nanotubes incorporated inside and also grafted nanotubes on their surface. Such polymer fibres can be used to reinforce thermoplastics to make high performance composites with effective recyclability. This is important as the existing thermosetting composites are not recyclable and significant property enhancement require high loading (>30%) of reinforcing fibres ....High performance polymer fibres for recyclable composites . The project aims to develop novel drawn polymer fibres with aligned carbon nanotubes incorporated inside and also grafted nanotubes on their surface. Such polymer fibres can be used to reinforce thermoplastics to make high performance composites with effective recyclability. This is important as the existing thermosetting composites are not recyclable and significant property enhancement require high loading (>30%) of reinforcing fibres. The outcomes of this project will be novel technology for making high stiffness polymer fibres and their use in thermoplastic composites. The benefits will be to allow easy processing and recycling. They will be used in down-sizing of high volume products and high value automotive or aerospace products.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE140100071
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$220,000.00
Summary
In-situ elevated temperature nano-indentation. In-situ elevated temperature nano-indentation: Nano-indentation has revolutionised the characterisation of the mechanical properties of materials. It permits the elastic, plastic and cracking response to be probed at the nano-scale. This project will provide a state-of-the-art Hysitron nano-indenter configured to permit isothermal elevated temperature operation (up to 650 degrees Celsius). The unit will be the only one in Australia with this capabil ....In-situ elevated temperature nano-indentation. In-situ elevated temperature nano-indentation: Nano-indentation has revolutionised the characterisation of the mechanical properties of materials. It permits the elastic, plastic and cracking response to be probed at the nano-scale. This project will provide a state-of-the-art Hysitron nano-indenter configured to permit isothermal elevated temperature operation (up to 650 degrees Celsius). The unit will be the only one in Australia with this capability and amongst the few available globally. Temperature is the single most important parameter in material processing. This facility will permit the assembled team to be among the first in the world to apply this technique to the development of new materials with superior processing performance in addition to enhanced behaviour in service.Read moreRead less
High performance sustainable carbon fibres from Australian spinifex grass. Spinifex grasses cover approximately 30 per cent of our Australian continent, in the driest regions. It has been found that, presumably because of this harsh environment, they are uniquely easy to break down into ultra-long, thin cellulose nanofibrils. Through the use of novel catalysts and advanced processing techniques, this project aims to take advantage of this trait to deliver the cost-effective production of high st ....High performance sustainable carbon fibres from Australian spinifex grass. Spinifex grasses cover approximately 30 per cent of our Australian continent, in the driest regions. It has been found that, presumably because of this harsh environment, they are uniquely easy to break down into ultra-long, thin cellulose nanofibrils. Through the use of novel catalysts and advanced processing techniques, this project aims to take advantage of this trait to deliver the cost-effective production of high strength, sustainable carbon fibres from nanocellulose. It is expected that the use of the world's first university based research facility capable of producing high quality carbon fibre (CarbonNexus) will ensure the product is industrially relevant, with real potential to capture a share of the $14 billion carbon-fibre-composite market.Read moreRead less