Manufacturing high value carbon products and chemicals from spent tyres. Manufacturing high value carbon products and chemicals from spent tyres. This project aims to develop an innovative and integrated thermochemical process for use of spent tyres. Australia disposes of more than 400,000 tonnes of spent tyres per annum in landfills, stockpiles and random dumping, incurring significant environmental hazards, serious health risks and wastage of resources. This research is expected to result in n ....Manufacturing high value carbon products and chemicals from spent tyres. Manufacturing high value carbon products and chemicals from spent tyres. This project aims to develop an innovative and integrated thermochemical process for use of spent tyres. Australia disposes of more than 400,000 tonnes of spent tyres per annum in landfills, stockpiles and random dumping, incurring significant environmental hazards, serious health risks and wastage of resources. This research is expected to result in new knowledge of the thermal behaviour of rubber and new techniques to identify, extract and use high value carbon materials and chemicals from thermochemical processing of spent tyres. The research outcomes are expected to provide a technological foundation for an emerging industry for environmentally responsible and economically self-sustaining use of spent tyres.Read moreRead less
On-demand visible light degradable dental materials. This project aims to break new ground in the field of advanced adhesives by pioneering a unique system that can be cleaved with a defined visible light trigger, enabling the removal of previously bonded material without mechanical force. This would allow two materials to be strongly bonded, including dental crowns, braces and implants. The project will advance on-demand degradable materials design, introducing an advanced class of responsive n ....On-demand visible light degradable dental materials. This project aims to break new ground in the field of advanced adhesives by pioneering a unique system that can be cleaved with a defined visible light trigger, enabling the removal of previously bonded material without mechanical force. This would allow two materials to be strongly bonded, including dental crowns, braces and implants. The project will advance on-demand degradable materials design, introducing an advanced class of responsive networks for applications where reversible bonding is critical. It will have flow on benefits in future dental material applications and also have applications where simple-to-remove, temporary adhesives are required.Read moreRead less
Highly Crosslinked Poly(urea-co-urethane) Copolymer Concrete Floor Coatings. Recently developed, poly(urea-co-urethane) concrete floor screeds are used, in the construction industry, to provide protection against corrosive chemicals and abrasive wear; properties unmatched by other commercial floor treatments. Significantly such material has reduced environmental emissions and toxicity hazards. Factors, which affect the cure and performance of poly(urea-co-urethane) flooring materials will now ....Highly Crosslinked Poly(urea-co-urethane) Copolymer Concrete Floor Coatings. Recently developed, poly(urea-co-urethane) concrete floor screeds are used, in the construction industry, to provide protection against corrosive chemicals and abrasive wear; properties unmatched by other commercial floor treatments. Significantly such material has reduced environmental emissions and toxicity hazards. Factors, which affect the cure and performance of poly(urea-co-urethane) flooring materials will now be studied, including the uncontrolled release of carbon dioxide, which results in sporadic blister formation, leading to the on-site product failures that have severely limited the product's commercial growth. Clear understanding of cure chemistry and adhesion will be established for the first, allowing for the products further development.Read moreRead less
Reinforcement of rubber products using nanostructured carbon materials. Reinforcement of rubber products using nanostructured carbon materials. This project aims to use the surface-functionalized nanostructured carbons as fillers to reinforce natural rubber. These fillers should significantly enhance the cross-linking between carbon and rubber matrix, leading to high-performance composite products with long lifetime, high thermal conductivity, high oil resistance and outstanding dynamic behaviou ....Reinforcement of rubber products using nanostructured carbon materials. Reinforcement of rubber products using nanostructured carbon materials. This project aims to use the surface-functionalized nanostructured carbons as fillers to reinforce natural rubber. These fillers should significantly enhance the cross-linking between carbon and rubber matrix, leading to high-performance composite products with long lifetime, high thermal conductivity, high oil resistance and outstanding dynamic behaviours. This project is expected to make Australia capable of fabricating superior rubber-based materials and devices that are comfortable, quiet and energy efficient, for use in aircrafts, automobiles and vessels. It should also reduce the use of non-degradable rubber materials, promoting Australia’s economic development and environment protection.Read moreRead less
Electrically conductive elastomeric composites by nanomaterials. Electrically conductive elastomeric composites by nanomaterials. This project aims to develop electrically conductive, mechanically robust, cost-effective elastomeric composites, by exploring new processing methods and studying the synergy between graphene sheets and multi-walled carbon nanotubes. Composites will be design, research and manufactured to suit the fabrication of rolling-resistance sensors that detect early-stage malfu ....Electrically conductive elastomeric composites by nanomaterials. Electrically conductive elastomeric composites by nanomaterials. This project aims to develop electrically conductive, mechanically robust, cost-effective elastomeric composites, by exploring new processing methods and studying the synergy between graphene sheets and multi-walled carbon nanotubes. Composites will be design, research and manufactured to suit the fabrication of rolling-resistance sensors that detect early-stage malfunctioning idler rolls. This technology could prevent the breakage of conveyor belts which are essential to the mining, processing and transportation of loose bulk materials; and improve the design and manufacturing of flexible sensors.Read moreRead less
Elastomer/Graphene Composites for Reinforcement at Low Strain. This project aims to develop new elastomer/graphene composites by designing and fabricating graphene precursors which can transform into graphene sheets during melt compounding with elastomers. These sheets have tunable surface affinity with elastomers, to attain expected dispersion in elastomers for effective reinforcement at low strain. The dominant filler in industry – carbon black – is ineffective at low strain. The outcomes are ....Elastomer/Graphene Composites for Reinforcement at Low Strain. This project aims to develop new elastomer/graphene composites by designing and fabricating graphene precursors which can transform into graphene sheets during melt compounding with elastomers. These sheets have tunable surface affinity with elastomers, to attain expected dispersion in elastomers for effective reinforcement at low strain. The dominant filler in industry – carbon black – is ineffective at low strain. The outcomes are anticipated to transform the current manufacturing practice of rubber products for applications in agricultural, automobile, construction, medical and mining industries.Read moreRead less
Degradable hollow microspheres for liver cancer treatment. The expected outcome of this multidisciplinary approach is a controlled drug delivery system for the treatment of liver cancer. We aim to increase the understanding of drug release using polymeric microspheres and the influence of the polymer properties on the release kinetics resulting in the tailored drug release for liver cancer treatment. An indepth knowledge in drug delivery can lead to optimised release kinetics leding to an increa ....Degradable hollow microspheres for liver cancer treatment. The expected outcome of this multidisciplinary approach is a controlled drug delivery system for the treatment of liver cancer. We aim to increase the understanding of drug release using polymeric microspheres and the influence of the polymer properties on the release kinetics resulting in the tailored drug release for liver cancer treatment. An indepth knowledge in drug delivery can lead to optimised release kinetics leding to an increased patient convenience and life prolonging treatments.Read moreRead less
New Surface Coatings Derived from Renewable Resources. In this project we will develop a novel, efficient cross-linking methodology to generate surface coating and adhesive products from inexpensive, renewable, local, natural feedstocks. Potential economic benefits to Australia include the replacement of imported petrochemical feedstocks with Australian agricultural products, the development of high performance products with the potential for export, and the establishment of an intellectual prop ....New Surface Coatings Derived from Renewable Resources. In this project we will develop a novel, efficient cross-linking methodology to generate surface coating and adhesive products from inexpensive, renewable, local, natural feedstocks. Potential economic benefits to Australia include the replacement of imported petrochemical feedstocks with Australian agricultural products, the development of high performance products with the potential for export, and the establishment of an intellectual property portfolio that will lead to opportunities for licensing internationally.Read moreRead less
High-Performance Polymer Composites for Electrical Discharging. This project aims to address the problem of electrostatic discharge by developing new industry-compatible processing techniques and taking advantage of the synergy between graphene and carbon nanotubes and fibres. Electrostatic discharge due to accumulation of static electricity is a significant problem for lightweight polymer composites used in hazard environments, such as pumps for underground mining, oil and gas storage and satel ....High-Performance Polymer Composites for Electrical Discharging. This project aims to address the problem of electrostatic discharge by developing new industry-compatible processing techniques and taking advantage of the synergy between graphene and carbon nanotubes and fibres. Electrostatic discharge due to accumulation of static electricity is a significant problem for lightweight polymer composites used in hazard environments, such as pumps for underground mining, oil and gas storage and satellites. The outcomes will potentially transform the current manufacturing practice of anti-static composites for industry applications including mining, energy, space and agriculture. Read moreRead less
Development of Optimised Processes for Manufacturing Melamine-Urea-Formaldehyde Type Resins, and Improved Resins and Reconstituted Wood Products Derived from Resins. Melamine-urea-formaldehyde resins are used to manufacture water-resistant particleboards, papers and laminates. This project is expected to provide more efficient processes for the industrial preparation of these resins, and improved resins and reconstituted wood products derived from the resins. Methods will be developed to assess ....Development of Optimised Processes for Manufacturing Melamine-Urea-Formaldehyde Type Resins, and Improved Resins and Reconstituted Wood Products Derived from Resins. Melamine-urea-formaldehyde resins are used to manufacture water-resistant particleboards, papers and laminates. This project is expected to provide more efficient processes for the industrial preparation of these resins, and improved resins and reconstituted wood products derived from the resins. Methods will be developed to assess the structure of the resins, in order to relate resin synthesis with structure and function, and therefore optimise performance as well as simplify the manufacturing process. Potential replacements for melamine will be prepared and evaluated. It is anticipated that these will confer particular properties on the resins and the wood products, such as strength and durability.Read moreRead less