Highly functional green materials platform: Starch-ionic liquid-carbon nanotube polymer melt nanocomposites. This project will deliver state of the art scientific advances in green polymers, green plasticisers and tailored nanomaterials for melt processible renewable starch plastics for high-performance applications as electroactive polymers in areas such as biosensors and biodiagnostics.
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE110100033
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$150,000.00
Summary
Green biopolymer nanocomposites facility: supercritical carbon dioxide characterisation and processing for nanomaterials and biopolymers. This facility will house characterisation and processing equipment for developing the next generation biopolymer materials. Novel biopolymers will be developed from natural and renewable resources using improved performance and lower energy supercritical carbon dioxide processing methods.
Novel injection moulded polymer substrates for solid phase applications. Solid phase organic reactions form the basis of many applications in drug design and development and medical applications. This project proposes the development of novel solid phase materials via control of novel insitu crosslinking and foaming processes and novel process molding control. This will enable more controlled large scale rapid production and detection of materials for biological and medical uses.
Nanoporous Epoxy Thermosets via Microphase Separation of Block Copolymers. This project has many expected outcomes and benefits to Australia: (1) Development of the first technology to produce nanoporous epoxy thermosets (i.e. epoxy nanofoams) that may have many applications in microelectronics, optical waveguides and biological separations; (2) Providing impetus for an advanced materials synthesis and manufacturing industry for Australia and contributing to the Frontier Technologies National Re ....Nanoporous Epoxy Thermosets via Microphase Separation of Block Copolymers. This project has many expected outcomes and benefits to Australia: (1) Development of the first technology to produce nanoporous epoxy thermosets (i.e. epoxy nanofoams) that may have many applications in microelectronics, optical waveguides and biological separations; (2) Providing impetus for an advanced materials synthesis and manufacturing industry for Australia and contributing to the Frontier Technologies National Research Priority-Advanced Materials Priority Goals; (3) The development of new niche markets with these new materials and the new technologies, which is an excellent vehicle for Australia to move to a high-value added industrial portfolio that maximises return and promotes job growth.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE120101549
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$375,000.00
Summary
Creating a baker's yeast chassis cell via shikimate pathway engineering for production of sustainable, carbon-neutral plastic precursors for the future. From air bags to carpets, tyres and garden hoses, plastics shape our every day life. Coming from fossil fuels most are currently neither sustainable nor renewable. This project will engineer baker's yeast to produce plastic precursors from cane sugar in a fermentation process. This lays the basis for a sugar cane based chemical industry.
High performance thermoplastic starch polymer films for controlled barrier and delivery. This project will deliver state of the art developments in high performance sustainable plastics. Specifically the project will develop new biopolymers for high-performance applications, such as smart packaging, biomedical materials and drug delivery systems.
Metabolic engineering of sugarcane: production of a biodegradable bioplastic as a test-case. The aim of this project is to produce a commercially valuable bioplastic called PHB in transgenic sugarcane. This bioplastic has similar properties to petrochemically produced polypropylene, but is fully biodegradable. PHB has been produced in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana at commercially viable levels. The expected outcome of high-level production of PHB in sugarcane would have significant ben ....Metabolic engineering of sugarcane: production of a biodegradable bioplastic as a test-case. The aim of this project is to produce a commercially valuable bioplastic called PHB in transgenic sugarcane. This bioplastic has similar properties to petrochemically produced polypropylene, but is fully biodegradable. PHB has been produced in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana at commercially viable levels. The expected outcome of high-level production of PHB in sugarcane would have significant benefits to the Australian sugar industry, the rural economy, and the Australian environment.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0668038
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$175,000.00
Summary
From Fundamentals to Complex Architecture in Free-Radical Polymerisation: Designing Future Generations of Macromolecular Materials. This research will help maintain the profile of Australia as a serious player in the important field of polymer chemistry. It will lay the groundwork for the preparation of novel materials of commercial value. These materials will enable more effective use of Australia's natural resources, support the development of high value-added Australian manufacturing industri ....From Fundamentals to Complex Architecture in Free-Radical Polymerisation: Designing Future Generations of Macromolecular Materials. This research will help maintain the profile of Australia as a serious player in the important field of polymer chemistry. It will lay the groundwork for the preparation of novel materials of commercial value. These materials will enable more effective use of Australia's natural resources, support the development of high value-added Australian manufacturing industries, and find application in human and animal medicine. They will enhance the health and well-being of the Australian community and engender a sense of wonder in susceptible members of this community.Read moreRead less
Novel Tough Polymer Composites. Advanced composites are used in high value-added applications such as computer chip packaging and aerospace applications. In these applications epoxy systems are used despite their inherent brittleness. Much research has focused on toughening epoxy systems, but most tougheners cause a reduction in processing or material properties. This project focuses on developing novel epoxy tougheners during the polymerisation of the epoxy-based composite. Specifically we will ....Novel Tough Polymer Composites. Advanced composites are used in high value-added applications such as computer chip packaging and aerospace applications. In these applications epoxy systems are used despite their inherent brittleness. Much research has focused on toughening epoxy systems, but most tougheners cause a reduction in processing or material properties. This project focuses on developing novel epoxy tougheners during the polymerisation of the epoxy-based composite. Specifically we will use novel hyperbranched [star-like] polymers that have excellent processing properties, high reactivity for structure control and the ability to control toughening at the molecular and macroscopic level to produce novel technology for advanced composites.
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Functional Renewable Plastics: Developing Novel Polysaccharide, Protein and Natural Polyester Based Polymer Nanocomposites. Biopolymer based plastics (eg starch and proteins from plants; polylactic acid from wastes) are made from renewable sources and are readily biodegradable, making them good substitutes for synthetic plastics for uses like packaging and agricultural film.
Some biopolymer plastics properties (eg water migration barrier, strength) are not as high as synthetic plastics. Creat ....Functional Renewable Plastics: Developing Novel Polysaccharide, Protein and Natural Polyester Based Polymer Nanocomposites. Biopolymer based plastics (eg starch and proteins from plants; polylactic acid from wastes) are made from renewable sources and are readily biodegradable, making them good substitutes for synthetic plastics for uses like packaging and agricultural film.
Some biopolymer plastics properties (eg water migration barrier, strength) are not as high as synthetic plastics. Creating nano-biocomposites (biopolymer plastics mixed with low levels of nano particles) will improve the properties of biopolymer plastics, giving novel materials that can be substituted for synthetic plastics in a wider range of applications.
These products will reduce our environmental impact, and also create economic benefits from novel, high-value nano-biocomposites.Read moreRead less