Self-assembly and complexity: networks and patterns from materials to markets. Self-assembly leads the formation of patterns without external directing agents. It is responsible for the growth of complex multiscale structures found in biology and materials science and is a crucial concept for development of viable nanotechnologies. Complex systems, from biological ecosystems to financial markets and the Internet, are also characterized by spontaneous clustering and linkages that determine their ....Self-assembly and complexity: networks and patterns from materials to markets. Self-assembly leads the formation of patterns without external directing agents. It is responsible for the growth of complex multiscale structures found in biology and materials science and is a crucial concept for development of viable nanotechnologies. Complex systems, from biological ecosystems to financial markets and the Internet, are also characterized by spontaneous clustering and linkages that determine their collective behaviour. The project will investigate in detail the geometry, topology, materials science and statistical physics of networks, leading to design and characterization of robust self-assembled materials and complex systems.Read moreRead less
Reducing the environmental impact of passenger vehicles by the design of lightweight alloy components. There are approximately a billion passenger vehicles in the world and the number is growing each year. The reduction in vehicle weight is therefore critical as it is one of the major contributors to both fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions. A major challenge for the automotive industry is to address this problem by replacing high density materials with lighter weight materials with co ....Reducing the environmental impact of passenger vehicles by the design of lightweight alloy components. There are approximately a billion passenger vehicles in the world and the number is growing each year. The reduction in vehicle weight is therefore critical as it is one of the major contributors to both fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions. A major challenge for the automotive industry is to address this problem by replacing high density materials with lighter weight materials with comparable properties. The aim is to design new lightweight aluminium alloys with the desired properties to replace existing high density steel fasteners in vehicles. It is expected that the new components aim to reduce the total weight of a standard car by at least 20kg; this would be a significant achievement in the eyes of automotive manufacturers.Read moreRead less
Smart utilisation of cobaltite based electrodes on solid oxide fuel cells. This project aims to develop solid oxide fuel cell technologies with significantly simplified fabrication steps and at low cost. It aims to generate fundamental knowledge on the polarisation induced electrode/electrolyte interfaces under fuel cell operation conditions. The advanced fuel cell technologies will in turn substantially increase the energy conversion efficiency and provide significant benefit in the reduction o ....Smart utilisation of cobaltite based electrodes on solid oxide fuel cells. This project aims to develop solid oxide fuel cell technologies with significantly simplified fabrication steps and at low cost. It aims to generate fundamental knowledge on the polarisation induced electrode/electrolyte interfaces under fuel cell operation conditions. The advanced fuel cell technologies will in turn substantially increase the energy conversion efficiency and provide significant benefit in the reduction of greenhouse emission.Read moreRead less
Hybrid materials with tunable mechanical response via topological interlocking and embedded kinematic agents. The project investigates a new approach to materials design targeting the inner architecture of materials. Such materials will be multifunctional and responsive to external fields. Applications include sound- and vibration-absorbing cladding, morphing aerospace and automotive materials, and protective civil engineering structures.
metal hydride reactors for high temperature thermochemical heat storage. The aim of this project is to develop a laboratory-based prototype for energy storage in concentrating solar power (CSP) systems using metal hydrides as a chemical energy storage medium. The successful development of cost-effective energy storage technologies is expected to dramatically increase the deployability of CSP systems and this, in turn, will greatly enhance our capacity to reduce reliance on fossil fuels. The outc ....metal hydride reactors for high temperature thermochemical heat storage. The aim of this project is to develop a laboratory-based prototype for energy storage in concentrating solar power (CSP) systems using metal hydrides as a chemical energy storage medium. The successful development of cost-effective energy storage technologies is expected to dramatically increase the deployability of CSP systems and this, in turn, will greatly enhance our capacity to reduce reliance on fossil fuels. The outcomes of the project are planned to be used towards the development of a commercially viable solar thermal energy storage system. The project also plans to conduct fundamental research into the development of new high-temperature metal hydrides suitable for energy storage in CSP systems.Read moreRead less
High-resolution in situ annealing studies of sub-micron grain structures. The proposed research is an extension of considerable ongoing collaboration between the applicants and will utilise advanced characterisation techniques to provide a more fundamental understanding than that presently available of the thermal stability of particle-containing nanocrystalline alloys. The project will reinforce the strong collaboration between our research groups and will expose Australian researchers to cutti ....High-resolution in situ annealing studies of sub-micron grain structures. The proposed research is an extension of considerable ongoing collaboration between the applicants and will utilise advanced characterisation techniques to provide a more fundamental understanding than that presently available of the thermal stability of particle-containing nanocrystalline alloys. The project will reinforce the strong collaboration between our research groups and will expose Australian researchers to cutting-edge research techniques, with particular emphasis on broadening the training experience of early career researchers. Several joint journal papers are expected from this work.
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Isothermal Forging of Titanium Aluminide Based Intermetallic Alloys for Golf Club Head Applications. This project aims to produce prototype premium golf club heads of titanium aluminide alloys using isothermal forging technology. It is expected that innovative materials and processes will be developed that will keep the industry partner, SAT, ahead of its competitors and expand their export market share. It is also anticipated that these advanced materials and processes will lead to further ap ....Isothermal Forging of Titanium Aluminide Based Intermetallic Alloys for Golf Club Head Applications. This project aims to produce prototype premium golf club heads of titanium aluminide alloys using isothermal forging technology. It is expected that innovative materials and processes will be developed that will keep the industry partner, SAT, ahead of its competitors and expand their export market share. It is also anticipated that these advanced materials and processes will lead to further applications in biotechnology and automotive and aerospace engineering.
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Green Machining of Powder Metallurgy Based Aluminium Composites. This project will initiate and establish a collaborative research program between Professor Wojciech Z. Misiolek of Lehigh University (Bethlehem, PA, USA) and Professor Graham Schaffer at The University of Queensland. Professor Misiolek will spend an extended six month period at The University of Queensland. The specific aim of the project is to develop a method to machine aluminium composites in the green, or unsintered, state. Th ....Green Machining of Powder Metallurgy Based Aluminium Composites. This project will initiate and establish a collaborative research program between Professor Wojciech Z. Misiolek of Lehigh University (Bethlehem, PA, USA) and Professor Graham Schaffer at The University of Queensland. Professor Misiolek will spend an extended six month period at The University of Queensland. The specific aim of the project is to develop a method to machine aluminium composites in the green, or unsintered, state. This will overcome a major impediment to the wider utilisation of aluminium matrix composites, which have an attractive combination of properties but cannot be formed into complex shapes using conventional processing methodologies.Read moreRead less
The thermal stability of nanocrystalline alloys produced by severe plastic straining. An exciting class of materials has emerged with grain sizes two orders of magnitude finer than that produced by conventional processing. These nanocrystalline alloys are produced by intense plastic straining termed equal channel angular extrusion (ECAE). The aim of the project is to incorporate novel experimental techniques, using single crystals, in situ annealing and 3-D computer simulation to develop a fun ....The thermal stability of nanocrystalline alloys produced by severe plastic straining. An exciting class of materials has emerged with grain sizes two orders of magnitude finer than that produced by conventional processing. These nanocrystalline alloys are produced by intense plastic straining termed equal channel angular extrusion (ECAE). The aim of the project is to incorporate novel experimental techniques, using single crystals, in situ annealing and 3-D computer simulation to develop a fundamental understanding of microstructural stability during ECAE and subsequent thermal treatment. Such advances in our understanding of boundary mobility in fine-scale microstructures is important for evaluating their stability and, hence, the possible commercial exploitation of these materials.Read moreRead less
Development of Creep Resistant TiAl Alloys for High Temperature Structural Applications. TiAl based alloys are being developed as high temperature structural materials for aerospace and automotive applications and thus their creep resistance (long-term strength at elevated temperatures) is critical. This project aims at developing creep resistant TiAl alloys through a combination of addition of rare earth and severe plastic deformation. It is expected that a refined and stablised microstructure ....Development of Creep Resistant TiAl Alloys for High Temperature Structural Applications. TiAl based alloys are being developed as high temperature structural materials for aerospace and automotive applications and thus their creep resistance (long-term strength at elevated temperatures) is critical. This project aims at developing creep resistant TiAl alloys through a combination of addition of rare earth and severe plastic deformation. It is expected that a refined and stablised microstructure consisting of submicron lamellar grains and nanosized lamellae be obtained. This will result in a highly creep resistant prototype TiAl material and leads eventually to the development of commercial TiAl alloys.Read moreRead less