New Paradigm for Materials Technology for AZS Glassmaking Refractories. The project aims to enable the inexpensive manufacture of widely used refractories with reduced energy and materials costs and improved thermal and mechanical properties. The project plans to exploit technology patented by the researchers to fabricate percolated mullite materials from fly ash by sintering, yielding properties equivalent or superior to those of fuse-cast alumina-zirconia-silica refractories (AZS). AZS is expe ....New Paradigm for Materials Technology for AZS Glassmaking Refractories. The project aims to enable the inexpensive manufacture of widely used refractories with reduced energy and materials costs and improved thermal and mechanical properties. The project plans to exploit technology patented by the researchers to fabricate percolated mullite materials from fly ash by sintering, yielding properties equivalent or superior to those of fuse-cast alumina-zirconia-silica refractories (AZS). AZS is expensive since it requires melting by fuse-casting and high-purity raw materials. The project aims to eliminate both requirements by sintering and use of waste fly ash, giving microstructures of dense, direct-bonded, percolated, mullite, single crystals, with residual impurities in the interstices that do not affect creep.Read moreRead less
Vacuum insulated energy-efficient windows. Vacuum insulated energy-efficient windows. This project aims to develop large vacuum insulated windows with higher insulation performance than triple glazing, the best currently available, by toughening glass to increase its strength, flatness and safety. Higher performance windows reduce energy wastage in the developed world, and vacuum glazing’s thin profile means they can be retrofitted into buildings immediately, without the delay of replacing build ....Vacuum insulated energy-efficient windows. Vacuum insulated energy-efficient windows. This project aims to develop large vacuum insulated windows with higher insulation performance than triple glazing, the best currently available, by toughening glass to increase its strength, flatness and safety. Higher performance windows reduce energy wastage in the developed world, and vacuum glazing’s thin profile means they can be retrofitted into buildings immediately, without the delay of replacing building stock. The anticipated outcome is a major reduction in energy use for climate control in buildings, a large and rapidly growing energy sector that climate change makes unsustainable; and rapid economic, social and environmental benefits through sustainable climate control in cities.Read moreRead less
Hermetic encapsulated perovskite solar cells for energy harvesting glazings. This project aims is to develop fully hermetic, vacuum encapsulation for perovskite solar cells as energy harvesting glazing systems in buildings with high thermal insulation. This glazing system should simultaneously mitigate heat gain in summer and heat loss in winter, control the entry of light, and generate electric power. This project seeks to develop a new advanced glass encapsulation method with electrical feedth ....Hermetic encapsulated perovskite solar cells for energy harvesting glazings. This project aims is to develop fully hermetic, vacuum encapsulation for perovskite solar cells as energy harvesting glazing systems in buildings with high thermal insulation. This glazing system should simultaneously mitigate heat gain in summer and heat loss in winter, control the entry of light, and generate electric power. This project seeks to develop a new advanced glass encapsulation method with electrical feedthroughs that is fully compatible with perovskite solar cells. It should revolutionise the architectural glazing market with a new generation product with unprecedented electrical power generation capacity and a simultaneous increase in thermal insulation to provide the ultimate energy solution for future cities. An expected outcome from this project is a range of new products to expand the solar market beyond roof-top applications and solar farms.Read moreRead less
Development of hierarchical carbon nanotube-glass fibre composites. Development of hierarchical carbon nanotube-glass fibre composites. This project aims to develop a new generation of hierarchical carbon nanotube-glass fibre reinforced composites, using a novel synthesis method that grafts carbon nanotubes (CNTs) onto glass fibre and glass fabric. These hierarchical nano- and micro-fibre composites will have improved in-plane mechanical properties, enhanced fracture toughness and higher electri ....Development of hierarchical carbon nanotube-glass fibre composites. Development of hierarchical carbon nanotube-glass fibre composites. This project aims to develop a new generation of hierarchical carbon nanotube-glass fibre reinforced composites, using a novel synthesis method that grafts carbon nanotubes (CNTs) onto glass fibre and glass fabric. These hierarchical nano- and micro-fibre composites will have improved in-plane mechanical properties, enhanced fracture toughness and higher electric conductivity. This project will use a comprehensive experimental and theoretical study to develop design tools for producing this new generation of composites. The anticipated outcome is lighter and stronger glass fibre composite structures, such as wind turbines in the renewable wind energy industry and boats in the marine industry.Read moreRead less
Fracture-Resistant Highly Insulating Vacuum Glazing. Vacuum glazing can provide thermal and sound insulation for windows that achieve the benefits of double glazing without the increased thickness by incorporating a vacuum space between two sheets of glass. The gap is maintained by pillars under high compressive stress due to atmospheric pressure. In this project, we will study the effect of pillar designs and materials on the U-value and the mechanical performance of these complex structures. D ....Fracture-Resistant Highly Insulating Vacuum Glazing. Vacuum glazing can provide thermal and sound insulation for windows that achieve the benefits of double glazing without the increased thickness by incorporating a vacuum space between two sheets of glass. The gap is maintained by pillars under high compressive stress due to atmospheric pressure. In this project, we will study the effect of pillar designs and materials on the U-value and the mechanical performance of these complex structures. Detailed simulations and measurements of stress distributions in the pillars, edge seals and glass sheets, under static and dynamic loading conditions, will allow us to develop glazing structures with greatly increased mechanical strength.Read moreRead less
Surface engineering of oriented nano-layers for performance control. This research project will deliver knowledge on how to graft oriented, self assembled films from a surface, develop structure-property relationships at a nano-scale, develop a means to control these properties and develop characterization techniques at nano-scales. This research project, if successful, will deliver the ability to tailor the properties of a surface in a manner and over a range of properties that is not even cont ....Surface engineering of oriented nano-layers for performance control. This research project will deliver knowledge on how to graft oriented, self assembled films from a surface, develop structure-property relationships at a nano-scale, develop a means to control these properties and develop characterization techniques at nano-scales. This research project, if successful, will deliver the ability to tailor the properties of a surface in a manner and over a range of properties that is not even contemplated today.
In addition to the scientific benefits, there are also immediate commercial applications in Australia and worldwide for ophthalmic products (e.g. anti-fog and easy to clean lenses), if the balance of properties can be obtained.
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Optically-selective window coatings of precious metal nanoparticles. There is great opportunity for Australia to save energy and money through the development of glass which excludes heat. This project builds on UTS research into the use of gold and silver nanoparticles in spectrally-selective coatings for windows. It will develop novel, low-cost in situ deposition processes to lay down ultra-thin coatings of gold nano-rods and other shapes on glass, creating coatings that have a neutral colour ....Optically-selective window coatings of precious metal nanoparticles. There is great opportunity for Australia to save energy and money through the development of glass which excludes heat. This project builds on UTS research into the use of gold and silver nanoparticles in spectrally-selective coatings for windows. It will develop novel, low-cost in situ deposition processes to lay down ultra-thin coatings of gold nano-rods and other shapes on glass, creating coatings that have a neutral colour in the visible wavelengths, but which block infra-red light. Coated glass of this type has major application in the building industry as well as export potential.Read moreRead less
Next generation easy-clean lenses by robust liquid-repellent nanotextures. This project aims to produce better performing self-cleaning lenses, which are less likely to get dirty and are easy to clean. It will develop water and oil repellent coatings with superior optical transparency and mechanical, solvent and UV stability for both hard coated and anti-reflection coated optical lenses. Engineering of stable, ultra-liquid repellent nanomaterials on transparent surfaces will create a foundation ....Next generation easy-clean lenses by robust liquid-repellent nanotextures. This project aims to produce better performing self-cleaning lenses, which are less likely to get dirty and are easy to clean. It will develop water and oil repellent coatings with superior optical transparency and mechanical, solvent and UV stability for both hard coated and anti-reflection coated optical lenses. Engineering of stable, ultra-liquid repellent nanomaterials on transparent surfaces will create a foundation of knowledge for the industrial development of the future generation of easy care coatings, with vast application potential.Read moreRead less
Process models and control strategies for abrasive waterjet precision cutting of amorphous magnetic metal parts for energy efficient electrical machines. Amorphous magnetic metal (AMM) is the most energy-efficient material for electrical machines and can save more than 36% of the energy wasted by an electrical motor using an ordinary core material. Since electrical motors consume about 70% of all the electricity generated, energy saving of approximately $900 million annually in electricity bills ....Process models and control strategies for abrasive waterjet precision cutting of amorphous magnetic metal parts for energy efficient electrical machines. Amorphous magnetic metal (AMM) is the most energy-efficient material for electrical machines and can save more than 36% of the energy wasted by an electrical motor using an ordinary core material. Since electrical motors consume about 70% of all the electricity generated, energy saving of approximately $900 million annually in electricity bills, and an annual reduction of 2.5 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions in Australia are expected. This project will develop a unique technology able to cut AMM to the required quality and productivity. It targets the national research priorities in Frontier Technologies and An Environmentally Sustainable Australia. Read moreRead less
Fundamentals of an Innovative Technology for Solar Silicon Production. Australia is a world leader in research in photovoltaic technology for solar energy. However, Australia does not produce solar grade silicon. The proposed project will develop a novel frontier technology which will cut the solar silicon production cost by 50%. This will enhance Australia's capacity to power a world-class photovoltaic industry of the future and build on Australia's strengths in research and innovation. Applica ....Fundamentals of an Innovative Technology for Solar Silicon Production. Australia is a world leader in research in photovoltaic technology for solar energy. However, Australia does not produce solar grade silicon. The proposed project will develop a novel frontier technology which will cut the solar silicon production cost by 50%. This will enhance Australia's capacity to power a world-class photovoltaic industry of the future and build on Australia's strengths in research and innovation. Application of the technology will contribute to achieving national target of 6.74 GW photovoltaic solar power capacity by 2020; this will reduce 9.32 million tonnes/year of CO2 emission (the Australian photovoltaic industry roadmap) and contribute to an environmentally sustainable Australia.Read moreRead less