Understanding the role of nanoparticles in water based lubrication. This project seeks to understand the role of nanoparticles in the lubrication of hot strip rolling and then to develop novel nano-additive water-based lubricants to solve a long-standing issue for the steel-making industry. Lubrication significantly affects the surface quality of hot-rolled strips, roll wear and energy consumption in the steel-making industry. Currently, oil-based lubricants are used. However, their lubricant ef ....Understanding the role of nanoparticles in water based lubrication. This project seeks to understand the role of nanoparticles in the lubrication of hot strip rolling and then to develop novel nano-additive water-based lubricants to solve a long-standing issue for the steel-making industry. Lubrication significantly affects the surface quality of hot-rolled strips, roll wear and energy consumption in the steel-making industry. Currently, oil-based lubricants are used. However, their lubricant effect is considerably reduced by the use of high pressure cooling water, and the waste discharge is of environmental concern. Successful outcomes for the project are expected to improve product quality and reduce resource use.Read moreRead less
Non-destructive characterisation of residual stresses for the silicon-on-sapphire technology. Every sapphire wafer for the fabrication of integrated circuits using the silicon-on-sapphire technology is worth more than a thousand dollars, and the cost grows exponentially with successive processing of circuitry. Early detection and prevention of wafer failure is therefore an economic and quality necessity. The fast, non-destructive method to be developed by the proposed research will enable semic ....Non-destructive characterisation of residual stresses for the silicon-on-sapphire technology. Every sapphire wafer for the fabrication of integrated circuits using the silicon-on-sapphire technology is worth more than a thousand dollars, and the cost grows exponentially with successive processing of circuitry. Early detection and prevention of wafer failure is therefore an economic and quality necessity. The fast, non-destructive method to be developed by the proposed research will enable semiconductor electronics manufacturers to achieve a cost-effective fabrication of integrated circuits by detecting damages in wafers at the very early stage of production.Read moreRead less
Sustainability Cockpit: an integrated tool for assessment and improvement of sustainability in manufacturing. This project aims to understand the relation between the traditional business indicators, such as cost, and the environmental indicators, such as carbon footprint. The outcome of this project will be an integrated tool which will allow manufacturers to assess and improve their environmental footprint in a cost effective manner.
Exploration of lead free ferroelectric crystals for transducer applications. This project aims to investigate lead free crystals, which are expected to possess high piezoelectric properties for medical imaging and underwater acoustics, as an alternative to toxic lead-based ferroelectrics which have been dominantly used in ultrasound transducers. The project will have significant impact on development of new lead-free ferroelectric crystals with desirable properties. This will benefit Australian ....Exploration of lead free ferroelectric crystals for transducer applications. This project aims to investigate lead free crystals, which are expected to possess high piezoelectric properties for medical imaging and underwater acoustics, as an alternative to toxic lead-based ferroelectrics which have been dominantly used in ultrasound transducers. The project will have significant impact on development of new lead-free ferroelectric crystals with desirable properties. This will benefit Australian industry by providing knowledge and technology of crystal growth, enabling advanced ultrasound transducers for medical imaging and underwater acoustic applications.Read moreRead less
Scaling manufacture of three-dimensional microstructures for the medical devices industry. Scaling manufacture of three-dimensional microstructures for the medical devices industry. This project aims to transform microscale three-dimensional prototyping into a cheap high volume manufacturing process through a novel soft embossing process. Although three-dimensional printing has been hailed as a disruptive technology, because it can print complex shapes directly from drawings, it is too slow at m ....Scaling manufacture of three-dimensional microstructures for the medical devices industry. Scaling manufacture of three-dimensional microstructures for the medical devices industry. This project aims to transform microscale three-dimensional prototyping into a cheap high volume manufacturing process through a novel soft embossing process. Although three-dimensional printing has been hailed as a disruptive technology, because it can print complex shapes directly from drawings, it is too slow at microscale for high volume manufacture. This research will develop microdevices for painless collection of blood, its analysis, and drug delivery. Cost-effective manufacture of these microdevices is expected to tap into the large medical devices industry, leading to establishing new businesses in the point-of-care and drug delivery markets.Read moreRead less
Breakthrough technologies in implantable bionics. This project aims to introduce revolutionary changes in implantable bionics via miniaturisation, automation and improved reliability and generating new knowledge by leveraging recent advances in laser processes. Expected outcomes include innovative hybrid thin-film/thick-film electrode arrays with more channels and charge-carrying capacity for neuromodulation; novel glass interfaces that facilitate deeply-miniaturised hermetic packages; and failu ....Breakthrough technologies in implantable bionics. This project aims to introduce revolutionary changes in implantable bionics via miniaturisation, automation and improved reliability and generating new knowledge by leveraging recent advances in laser processes. Expected outcomes include innovative hybrid thin-film/thick-film electrode arrays with more channels and charge-carrying capacity for neuromodulation; novel glass interfaces that facilitate deeply-miniaturised hermetic packages; and failure analysis to ensure study aims result in new processes that are as or more reliable than the current state-of-the-art. This work will create new and novel manufacturing processes, and trains the next generation of innovators equipped with the tools to advance implantable bionics into the future.Read moreRead less
Mechanisms of mixed lubrication in rolling. Advanced manufacturing is always a major wealth-creating sector in developed economies. To catch up the revolution in rolling industry, Australia must develop her own technologies, train her own professionals of high competence, and thus increase her share in the international market. The proposed research will enhance Australia's record in production-orientated fundamental research in the field of metal rolling, and stimulate the growth of the world-c ....Mechanisms of mixed lubrication in rolling. Advanced manufacturing is always a major wealth-creating sector in developed economies. To catch up the revolution in rolling industry, Australia must develop her own technologies, train her own professionals of high competence, and thus increase her share in the international market. The proposed research will enhance Australia's record in production-orientated fundamental research in the field of metal rolling, and stimulate the growth of the world-class Australian industry, BlueScope Steel, and train young engineers most needed by the country. The research outcome will bring about long-term benefit to Australia.Read moreRead less
A new abrasive waterjet milling technology and process models for fabricating energy-efficient electrical machines from amorphous magnetic metal laminations. As the most energy-efficient core material for electrical machines, amorphous magnetic metal (AMM) can save more than 36% of the energy wasted by ordinary electrical motors. Since electrical motors consume about 70% of all the electricity generated, if all electrical motors in Australia use AMM as the core material, an annual energy saving ....A new abrasive waterjet milling technology and process models for fabricating energy-efficient electrical machines from amorphous magnetic metal laminations. As the most energy-efficient core material for electrical machines, amorphous magnetic metal (AMM) can save more than 36% of the energy wasted by ordinary electrical motors. Since electrical motors consume about 70% of all the electricity generated, if all electrical motors in Australia use AMM as the core material, an annual energy saving worth approximately $4 billion and an annual reduction of 16 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emission in Australia are expected based on the predicted electricity consumption in 2010. This project will develop a new technology for fabricating larger electrical machines from AMM laminations. It targets the national research priorities in Frontier Technologies and An Environmentally Sustainable Australia.Read moreRead less
Energy and water efficiency in Australian manufacturing. This project aims at developing an interdisciplinary solution to increase the understanding of energy and water flows in manufacturing companies. The proposed approach will lead to the development of technical solutions to increase the efficient usage of energy and water on a continuous basis.
Condition monitoring of large, horizontal low speed slew bearings. Remote sensing has often been used to collect vibration data .To date, no current analysis technique has produced results that appear consistent due to the low speed (less than 1 Hz), and the acyclic characteristic of the rolling element anti-friction bearing.
The contact vibration energy between rolling elements and races is low due to the low speed of the motion, and thus the vibration produced is masked by the general runnin ....Condition monitoring of large, horizontal low speed slew bearings. Remote sensing has often been used to collect vibration data .To date, no current analysis technique has produced results that appear consistent due to the low speed (less than 1 Hz), and the acyclic characteristic of the rolling element anti-friction bearing.
The contact vibration energy between rolling elements and races is low due to the low speed of the motion, and thus the vibration produced is masked by the general running vibration and is not readily distinguishable from the background vibration of the rotating structure. The aim of this project is to use remote sensors to collect information about the state of horizontal slew bearings and develop an analysis technique that will predict the short to medium term behaviour of horizontal slew bearings. The technique has the potential of saving $3.2 million in loss production per an unplanned breakdown of a slew bearing in a steel plant.
Read moreRead less