Mechanisms and modelling of gels for protein separation. Gradipore approached Sydney University to collaborate on fundamental science needed to improve polymer gels for separation and characterization of proteins. These gels have many applications: e.g. proteomics and diagnostics. Presently, control of polymer microstructure in the synthesis of these gels is by trial and error. This project will create an accurate model of the process so pore size can be predicted. This involves novel work in ex ....Mechanisms and modelling of gels for protein separation. Gradipore approached Sydney University to collaborate on fundamental science needed to improve polymer gels for separation and characterization of proteins. These gels have many applications: e.g. proteomics and diagnostics. Presently, control of polymer microstructure in the synthesis of these gels is by trial and error. This project will create an accurate model of the process so pore size can be predicted. This involves novel work in experimental and theoretical methods developed by the Sydney University group. The result will be qualitative and quantitative understanding which can be subsequently used to tailor-make gels for new applications.Read moreRead less
Graphene - the new frontier electromaterial for rechargeable lithium batteries and supercapacitors. Global warming and climate change have triggered an intensive demand for clean energy sources to replace fossil fuels. Graphene, as an emerging novel material, can serve as a medium for highly efficient energy storage and conversion in electrochemical devices. This project will lead to the development of novel renewable energy storage and conversion technology for transportation and distributed en ....Graphene - the new frontier electromaterial for rechargeable lithium batteries and supercapacitors. Global warming and climate change have triggered an intensive demand for clean energy sources to replace fossil fuels. Graphene, as an emerging novel material, can serve as a medium for highly efficient energy storage and conversion in electrochemical devices. This project will lead to the development of novel renewable energy storage and conversion technology for transportation and distributed energy supplies. The outcomes of this research will increase our national energy security, facilitate achievement of the Federal government's target of 20% renewable energy in 2020, and bring significant economic and environmental benefits for Australia.Read moreRead less
Development of Dry Coated Pigment Particles: Durability and Dispersion. Tiwest is the only business in the world that mines, separates, refines and manufactures titanium dioxide products in one region. Tiwest has a major impact on the Western Australian economy with more than 700 full time and contract jobs, export earnings of $400M (in 2004) and regular incomes for an estimated 500 businesses. The current wet pigment particle coating process, to ensure ease of handling and longevity, is a major ....Development of Dry Coated Pigment Particles: Durability and Dispersion. Tiwest is the only business in the world that mines, separates, refines and manufactures titanium dioxide products in one region. Tiwest has a major impact on the Western Australian economy with more than 700 full time and contract jobs, export earnings of $400M (in 2004) and regular incomes for an estimated 500 businesses. The current wet pigment particle coating process, to ensure ease of handling and longevity, is a major cost. An optimised pigment dry-coating process would ensure Tiwest's competitiveness through reduced processing costs and improved performance. This development has the potential to increase Tiwest's profitability by 10%.Read moreRead less
Electronically Conducting Nanofibres and Assemblies. With the use of new techniques that have just emerged in the last two years and are receiving rapidly growing interest throughout the world, this project will bring to Australia a new nanofabrication platform for making a variety of complex nanostructures. Fundamental researches on these complex nanostructures will greatly advance nanoscience. New nanotechnologies will be developed to address some world-wide challenging problems, e.g. energy ....Electronically Conducting Nanofibres and Assemblies. With the use of new techniques that have just emerged in the last two years and are receiving rapidly growing interest throughout the world, this project will bring to Australia a new nanofabrication platform for making a variety of complex nanostructures. Fundamental researches on these complex nanostructures will greatly advance nanoscience. New nanotechnologies will be developed to address some world-wide challenging problems, e.g. energy conversion and storage, chemical/biological sensing and other micro- and nanoelectronic devices. This project will bring both breakthrough science and frontier technologies for building and transforming Australian industries and help place Australia at the forefront of nanotechnology. Read moreRead less
Understanding the Behavior of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes in Liquids. The imminent manufacture of Single Walled Carbon Nanotubes (SWNTs) at prices comparable to those of high-performance polymers such as Kevlar, will open up potential applications of SWNTs as high-performance fibres and coatings. A major challenge is the development of scalable processes for producing large objects made of SWNTs. This project, in collaboration with researchers at Rice and Stanford Universities, aims to unders ....Understanding the Behavior of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes in Liquids. The imminent manufacture of Single Walled Carbon Nanotubes (SWNTs) at prices comparable to those of high-performance polymers such as Kevlar, will open up potential applications of SWNTs as high-performance fibres and coatings. A major challenge is the development of scalable processes for producing large objects made of SWNTs. This project, in collaboration with researchers at Rice and Stanford Universities, aims to understand the principles that underlie the successful liquid state processing of SWNTs. The novel strategies that arise will cement Australia's position as a leading country for research in nanotechnology, and place it at the forefront of this field, with great potential for economic advantage.Read moreRead less
Predictive Assessment Tool for Beach Conditions Using Video Imaging and Neural Network Analysis. Beaches are vital part of Australian lifestyle and economic development. Monitoring of variable beach conditions is vital for beach safety and for management of storm erosion. The aim of this project is to develop an assessment tool which will permit a rating system of beach conditions both from an environmental as well as a leisure aspect. This tool will be developed into a software analysis system ....Predictive Assessment Tool for Beach Conditions Using Video Imaging and Neural Network Analysis. Beaches are vital part of Australian lifestyle and economic development. Monitoring of variable beach conditions is vital for beach safety and for management of storm erosion. The aim of this project is to develop an assessment tool which will permit a rating system of beach conditions both from an environmental as well as a leisure aspect. This tool will be developed into a software analysis system which will include components of artificial intelligence to enable the system to use feedback loops to create a better prediction of the beach morphology relative to the breaking wave characteristics.Read moreRead less
A New Approach to Studying Whole Bodies and Body Parts Applied to Problems of Forensic Science. To bring to the study of whole humans and human body parts, new methods capable of major advances such as those already provided by DNA technology in the study of human tissues, cells and molecules. This will allow better identification of human groups, geographic populations, gender differences and ageing.
To update facilities in forensic sciences strengthening Australian security systems thus he ....A New Approach to Studying Whole Bodies and Body Parts Applied to Problems of Forensic Science. To bring to the study of whole humans and human body parts, new methods capable of major advances such as those already provided by DNA technology in the study of human tissues, cells and molecules. This will allow better identification of human groups, geographic populations, gender differences and ageing.
To update facilities in forensic sciences strengthening Australian security systems thus helping fight terrorism and crime.
To establish international collaborations for Australia, especially with Asia.
To train young people, through Master's and Doctoral degrees programmes, in handling the new techniques and applying them to problems of forensic science
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Rubbery nanoparticles for improved plastics, additives and adhesives through novel low-temperature polymerization. This project will create the enabling science for producing better pressure-sensitive adhesives, leather treatment, bitumen additives and engineering plastics, by the first-ever synthesis of acrylic latex at low temperatures. This will allow certain reaction processes to predominate that will result in molecular architectures that are very different from those currently made. The re ....Rubbery nanoparticles for improved plastics, additives and adhesives through novel low-temperature polymerization. This project will create the enabling science for producing better pressure-sensitive adhesives, leather treatment, bitumen additives and engineering plastics, by the first-ever synthesis of acrylic latex at low temperatures. This will allow certain reaction processes to predominate that will result in molecular architectures that are very different from those currently made. The result will be enhanced material properties, such as better-wearing leather coatings, greater scratch and shock resistance in vehicle and domestic plastics (with reduced environmental insult in manufacture and usage), improved endurance for bitumen road surfaces, and layered packaging that needs less adhesive per unit of strength.Read moreRead less
Economic Operability Assessment of Leaching Process at Kwinana Nickel Refinery. Process operability is concerned with systematic analysis and improvement of process performance in the face of variable operating conditions. This project will develop a rigorous methodology for analysis of process operability with respect to short-term and transient disturbances. The proposed technique will be applied to the Kwinana Nickel Refinery Leach section, in order to reduce the plant variability and increas ....Economic Operability Assessment of Leaching Process at Kwinana Nickel Refinery. Process operability is concerned with systematic analysis and improvement of process performance in the face of variable operating conditions. This project will develop a rigorous methodology for analysis of process operability with respect to short-term and transient disturbances. The proposed technique will be applied to the Kwinana Nickel Refinery Leach section, in order to reduce the plant variability and increase nickel throughput and plant availability. This can be considered as significant move by a process industry to embrace advanced theoretical developments and will act as a benchmark to promote future links between Australian industry and academia.Read moreRead less
Towards Distributed Phased Array Radar for High Resolution Weather Monitoring. Several recent reports on climate change by leading international and national bodies forecast that the rate of weather hazards such as storms and wind-shear, and of weather-associated phenomena such as bush fires will increase over the next 40 years. The current technology for monitoring weather events, and effects like wind-shift, which has a serious impact on dangers associated with bush fires, has significant wea ....Towards Distributed Phased Array Radar for High Resolution Weather Monitoring. Several recent reports on climate change by leading international and national bodies forecast that the rate of weather hazards such as storms and wind-shear, and of weather-associated phenomena such as bush fires will increase over the next 40 years. The current technology for monitoring weather events, and effects like wind-shift, which has a serious impact on dangers associated with bush fires, has significant weaknesses. We will deliver considerable improvements in monitoring capability by developing the technology for using a network of small phased array radars. We aim to place monitoring resources where end-user needs are greatest.Read moreRead less