Formation and stability of polymerically stabilized colloids. This project will bring economic, medical and environmental benefits, with improved product performance and manufacturing processes for everyday industrial items relevant to a large industrial sector with significant employment in Australia: inks and paints (for example, surface coatings that can be applied more rapidly without clogging the jets); better means of preventing the fouling of industrial membranes; and improved materials f ....Formation and stability of polymerically stabilized colloids. This project will bring economic, medical and environmental benefits, with improved product performance and manufacturing processes for everyday industrial items relevant to a large industrial sector with significant employment in Australia: inks and paints (for example, surface coatings that can be applied more rapidly without clogging the jets); better means of preventing the fouling of industrial membranes; and improved materials for biomedical applications, with more desirable interactions between living cells and body fluids. These advances will also speed the replacement of solvent-based lacquer paints - detrimental to both environment and user - with water-based products of high quality.Read moreRead less
Establishing In-Depth Understanding of Molecular Degradation Processes in Acrylic Based Polymer Coil-Coatings for Domestic Roofing Applications. The national benefit is multipronged: (i) BlueScope Steel will maintain its technology leadership through continued innovation by taking advantage of the scientific insights that the project delivers for the introduction of next generation long lasting coil coatings for steel, based on an environmentally friendly production processes. (ii) The applicati ....Establishing In-Depth Understanding of Molecular Degradation Processes in Acrylic Based Polymer Coil-Coatings for Domestic Roofing Applications. The national benefit is multipronged: (i) BlueScope Steel will maintain its technology leadership through continued innovation by taking advantage of the scientific insights that the project delivers for the introduction of next generation long lasting coil coatings for steel, based on an environmentally friendly production processes. (ii) The application of mass spectrometry for the analysis of polymer degradation has been pioneered by the CI and BlueScope Steel. The project will demonstrate the power of this technique and secure Australia's place at the forefront of molecular polymer degradation research. (iii) The project has a strong educational component, training a PhD student at the interface of application and fundamental research.Read moreRead less
Fundamentals of the Performance Chemistry of Water-borne Acrylic Polymer based Surface Coatings for Pre-painted Steel Employed in Domestic Roofing Applications. The proposed project will systematically investigate the structure-performance relationships of acrylic emulsion based surface coatings and provide a detailed understanding of their degradation mechanisms. The improved understanding of these coatings will lead to the development of an optimum coating for steel roofs with extremely high d ....Fundamentals of the Performance Chemistry of Water-borne Acrylic Polymer based Surface Coatings for Pre-painted Steel Employed in Domestic Roofing Applications. The proposed project will systematically investigate the structure-performance relationships of acrylic emulsion based surface coatings and provide a detailed understanding of their degradation mechanisms. The improved understanding of these coatings will lead to the development of an optimum coating for steel roofs with extremely high durability and resistance against degradation and gloss loss in typical tropical and sub-tropical Australian climates.Read moreRead less
Switchable interfaces. The discovery project will challenge some of the most demanding issues regarding adhesion and molecular separation: - Surfaces that can release/prevent bio-film formation can provide novel solutions for corrosion-protection, implants, anti-fouling in medical devices as well as in industrial piping and reactors. - Materials for separation on the molecular level, which can bring new possibilities for fast and selective processes to the pharmaceutical industry. The novel comb ....Switchable interfaces. The discovery project will challenge some of the most demanding issues regarding adhesion and molecular separation: - Surfaces that can release/prevent bio-film formation can provide novel solutions for corrosion-protection, implants, anti-fouling in medical devices as well as in industrial piping and reactors. - Materials for separation on the molecular level, which can bring new possibilities for fast and selective processes to the pharmaceutical industry. The novel combination of the two materials research fields - plasma-polymerisation and electroactive materials- will lead to an international capability at the forefront of separation and adhesion research.Read moreRead less
Nano-scale Modification of Paint Surfaces for Contamination Resistance. The main aim of this work is to develop a process to produce a dirt resistant paint surface. Dirt resistance is an important characteristic of prepainted steel sheets often used in architectural situations where dirt build-up is unsightly. To develop the process it will be necessary to understand the mechanism of dirt adhesion to paints and the modes of operation of current dirt resistant processes. In addition work will be ....Nano-scale Modification of Paint Surfaces for Contamination Resistance. The main aim of this work is to develop a process to produce a dirt resistant paint surface. Dirt resistance is an important characteristic of prepainted steel sheets often used in architectural situations where dirt build-up is unsightly. To develop the process it will be necessary to understand the mechanism of dirt adhesion to paints and the modes of operation of current dirt resistant processes. In addition work will be required on the rate of surface segregation of additives to the paint solution. We propose to combine experimental and theoretical modelling approaches to obtain a fundamentally sound practical solution.Read moreRead less
Novel biodegradable starch/clay nanocomposites with enhanced strength and moisture resistance. The outcomes of the project will make an important contribution to a new technology of biodegradable polymer nanocomposites based on natural starch and clay. The project has direct environmental benefit due to the complete biodegradation of the resulting starch/clay nanocomposites which will be able to replace some non-biodegradable polymers in packaging and disposable bags, cups and boxes, etc. The re ....Novel biodegradable starch/clay nanocomposites with enhanced strength and moisture resistance. The outcomes of the project will make an important contribution to a new technology of biodegradable polymer nanocomposites based on natural starch and clay. The project has direct environmental benefit due to the complete biodegradation of the resulting starch/clay nanocomposites which will be able to replace some non-biodegradable polymers in packaging and disposable bags, cups and boxes, etc. The reduction in use of non-biodegradable polymers will be helpful to solve the "white pollution" and improve our living environments. This study will result in huge economic benefits for the national agriculture and plastic industries since Australia has a large starch production, and will enable Australia to be at the leading edge in this area.Read moreRead less
Novel Coatings For Steel. The aim of this project is to design coatings for steel that have high flexibility and high resistance to scatching and hardness. This will be achieved by the introduction of liquid crystalline phases in the coatings. The outcome will be a new generation of steel coatings with novel properties
Core-shell nanoparticle from polymers with pendant cyclodextrins. A better drug delivery system will be developed for the treatment of cancer with albendazole. These nanoparticles enhance the circulation time in the body, but also facilitate the delivery of the drug to the site of the tumour, which will increase the efficacy of the treatment. The nanoparticles are obtained by processing polymers with pendant cyclodextrin groups, which are a type of complex sugars. Aim of this work is the explora ....Core-shell nanoparticle from polymers with pendant cyclodextrins. A better drug delivery system will be developed for the treatment of cancer with albendazole. These nanoparticles enhance the circulation time in the body, but also facilitate the delivery of the drug to the site of the tumour, which will increase the efficacy of the treatment. The nanoparticles are obtained by processing polymers with pendant cyclodextrin groups, which are a type of complex sugars. Aim of this work is the exploration of synthetic routes to generate nanoparticles. Tailoring the underpinning polymer structure of these nanoparticles will allow the optimisation of the release of albendazole from the drug carrier, thus improving cancer treatment.Read moreRead less
The development of unique cyclic polymers. The project will yield cyclic polymers with a large range of commercial and industrial applications (e.g. drug delivery, contamination clean-up, nano-wires, sensors) that will result in positive economic and social benefits for Australia. The research will lead to increased employment opportunities within the manufacturing industry and R&D, and also underpin and extend Australia's leading position in the development of innovative polymeric and advanced ....The development of unique cyclic polymers. The project will yield cyclic polymers with a large range of commercial and industrial applications (e.g. drug delivery, contamination clean-up, nano-wires, sensors) that will result in positive economic and social benefits for Australia. The research will lead to increased employment opportunities within the manufacturing industry and R&D, and also underpin and extend Australia's leading position in the development of innovative polymeric and advanced materials. The resulting materials will provide new and improved technological innovations for commercial products, delivering benefits direct to the public. Furthermore, there is potential development of spin-off companies - leading to further investment in Australian science and industry.Read moreRead less
Platinum drugs containing core-shell nanoparticles. Many drugs such as cancer drugs contain metal ions. While the therapeutic benefits of metal containing drugs are highly promising, their administration is often accompanied by substantial side effects. Encapsulation of these drugs into nano-sized core-shell particles will prolong the circulation of the drug and therefore reduce the amount of repeated administrations. In addition, the shape and nature of the particle will enable the targeted del ....Platinum drugs containing core-shell nanoparticles. Many drugs such as cancer drugs contain metal ions. While the therapeutic benefits of metal containing drugs are highly promising, their administration is often accompanied by substantial side effects. Encapsulation of these drugs into nano-sized core-shell particles will prolong the circulation of the drug and therefore reduce the amount of repeated administrations. In addition, the shape and nature of the particle will enable the targeted delivery of these drug loaded nanocarriers to the tumor while healthy tissue remains unaffected. Read moreRead less