Sustainable Hydrogen Production from Used Water. The project aims to address the pressing challenge of water scarcity in hydrogen production by developing an innovative approach of using used water as the feed for water electrolysis. The project will result in an in-depth understanding of the impacts of water impurities in used water on the performance and durability of water electrolysers, and develop guidelines for the design of highly durable water electrolysers and the operation and upgrade ....Sustainable Hydrogen Production from Used Water. The project aims to address the pressing challenge of water scarcity in hydrogen production by developing an innovative approach of using used water as the feed for water electrolysis. The project will result in an in-depth understanding of the impacts of water impurities in used water on the performance and durability of water electrolysers, and develop guidelines for the design of highly durable water electrolysers and the operation and upgrade of existing wastewater treatment plants. The project will advance the practical applications of water electrolysis for scalable and sustainable hydrogen production and help Australia secure a leading position in the global emerging hydrogen economy.Read moreRead less
A fast, eco-friendly approach to the fabrication of low cost high performance titanium components. The purpose of this project is to develop an innovative manufacturing approach by which the cost of titanium components can be substantially reduced. This will significantly increase the commercial applications of titanium and its alloys.
Theoretical model that predicts the grain size of alloys inoculated with micro- and nano- particle master alloys and cast under an external field. The aim of this project is to develop a theoretical model that predicts grain size when components are cast under the influence of external fields (electromagnetic, ultrasonic, pulsed electric current and melt shearing treatments) and with the addition of nano-particle master alloys. Refining microstructures by available master alloys is reaching a li ....Theoretical model that predicts the grain size of alloys inoculated with micro- and nano- particle master alloys and cast under an external field. The aim of this project is to develop a theoretical model that predicts grain size when components are cast under the influence of external fields (electromagnetic, ultrasonic, pulsed electric current and melt shearing treatments) and with the addition of nano-particle master alloys. Refining microstructures by available master alloys is reaching a limit and this limits further improvement in mechanical properties to meet the challenge of new applications requiring, for example, high temperature properties or light weighting (for example, use of less material). The outcomes will be a new theoretical model, validated numerical models, new casting technologies and highly refined alloys with greater than 25 per cent improvement in mechanical properties. Read moreRead less
High performance ultrasonically processed biodegradable alloy products. This project aims to develop new alloy processing technology to improve the material properties of biodegradable products such as plates, microclips and wound-closing devices. The project aims to understand and model the role of external fields such as ultrasonic treatment in the development of microstructure, including grain nucleation and formation processes, in biodegradable magnesium alloy components. The project plans t ....High performance ultrasonically processed biodegradable alloy products. This project aims to develop new alloy processing technology to improve the material properties of biodegradable products such as plates, microclips and wound-closing devices. The project aims to understand and model the role of external fields such as ultrasonic treatment in the development of microstructure, including grain nucleation and formation processes, in biodegradable magnesium alloy components. The project plans to fabricate and evaluate the performance of medical devices incorporating ultrasonically processed alloy products. Project outcomes are intended to be used to optimise the application of external fields for property and processing improvement.Read moreRead less
Development of mechanically strong, ultrasonically processed, nanoparticle-embedded Pb-free soldered electronic interconnects and Al-Si brazed joints. This project aims to combine recent advances in understanding grain refinement during solidification with novel techniques of microstructure control through the application of external stimuli during processing and the addition of nanoparticle master alloys. This approach aims to enable the manufacture of fine-grained high performance products. Th ....Development of mechanically strong, ultrasonically processed, nanoparticle-embedded Pb-free soldered electronic interconnects and Al-Si brazed joints. This project aims to combine recent advances in understanding grain refinement during solidification with novel techniques of microstructure control through the application of external stimuli during processing and the addition of nanoparticle master alloys. This approach aims to enable the manufacture of fine-grained high performance products. The research is intended to be applied to soldering and brazing operations for improved behaviour during manufacturing and increased reliability. The involvement of a major global supplier of alloys to the electronics sector aims to facilitate the application of the research in the development of advanced products suitable for incorporation into next-generation electrical devices.Read moreRead less
Thixotropic Structure Generation and Semisolid Casting of Aluminium and Magnesium Alloys. A range of aluminium and magnesium alloys will be prepared by controlled-pouring to produce structures suitable for semisolid forming. The conditions around grain nucleation and growth will be studied to ascertain the controlling factors in producing suitable microstructures. A computer model to simulate the thixotropic structure formation and define the processing parameters will be developed. Semisolid c ....Thixotropic Structure Generation and Semisolid Casting of Aluminium and Magnesium Alloys. A range of aluminium and magnesium alloys will be prepared by controlled-pouring to produce structures suitable for semisolid forming. The conditions around grain nucleation and growth will be studied to ascertain the controlling factors in producing suitable microstructures. A computer model to simulate the thixotropic structure formation and define the processing parameters will be developed. Semisolid casting using the produced feedstock will lead to extensive knowledge about the effect of different microstructures and alloys on semisolid castability. Outcomes from the project will significantly advance the scientific understanding of the thixotropic structure generation and accelerate the development of semisolid processing technology.Read moreRead less
Developing high performance nanocomposite coatings for domestic appliances. Insufficient robustness and durability of the polymeric coatings on precoated metal sheets has resulted in unacceptably high product defects and reject rates. This project aims to develop novel and high performance nanocomposite multilayer coatings through the systematic optimisation of epoxy and polyester/ graphene and nanoclay systems. These complex coatings are expected to have considerably improved toughness, hardnes ....Developing high performance nanocomposite coatings for domestic appliances. Insufficient robustness and durability of the polymeric coatings on precoated metal sheets has resulted in unacceptably high product defects and reject rates. This project aims to develop novel and high performance nanocomposite multilayer coatings through the systematic optimisation of epoxy and polyester/ graphene and nanoclay systems. These complex coatings are expected to have considerably improved toughness, hardness and interfacial adhesion, thus enhancing formability and wear resistance of precoated metal sheets. Successful outcomes from this study will not only solve a long-standing problem in the manufacturing of precoated metals, but generate breakthrough technologies for next-generation nanocomposite coatings. Read moreRead less
Interface structures mediating load transfer between soft and hard tissues. This project aims to develop a novel technology platform to mediate load transfer between synthetic and biological materials with dissimilar mechanical properties, creating an effective interface mechanism. It will generate new knowledge in materials engineering by combining interdisciplinary expertise and state-of-the-art technologies in computational modelling, biomaterials, and additive manufacturing. Expected outcome ....Interface structures mediating load transfer between soft and hard tissues. This project aims to develop a novel technology platform to mediate load transfer between synthetic and biological materials with dissimilar mechanical properties, creating an effective interface mechanism. It will generate new knowledge in materials engineering by combining interdisciplinary expertise and state-of-the-art technologies in computational modelling, biomaterials, and additive manufacturing. Expected outcomes are high-tech ceramic structures optimized to interface effectively between synthetic soft tissues and natural hard tissues. This could ultimately benefit Australian industry engaged in developing next-generation synthetic orthopaedic solutions, providing a significant competitive advantage in an expanding global market.Read moreRead less
Designing plasmon-enhanced photocatalysts for solar-driven water pollutant removal. The outcomes of this program will lead to a new class of composite photocatalysts for efficient water purification using sunlight. Such technology will speed up the transition of Australian environmental and energy industries from a fossil fuel economy to renewable energy economy.
Towards use-as-manufactured titanium alloys for additive manufacturing. Australian manufacturers of 3D printed titanium products face grand challenges in affordably producing useable and reliable as-printed products because the 3D printing process may create unfavourable material characteristics. To ensure products meet acceptance criteria, manufacturers usually apply expensive and time-consuming post processes such as heat treatment. This project aims to discover how alloy composition can be mo ....Towards use-as-manufactured titanium alloys for additive manufacturing. Australian manufacturers of 3D printed titanium products face grand challenges in affordably producing useable and reliable as-printed products because the 3D printing process may create unfavourable material characteristics. To ensure products meet acceptance criteria, manufacturers usually apply expensive and time-consuming post processes such as heat treatment. This project aims to discover how alloy composition can be modified to produce more favourable material characteristics directly from 3D printing, preventing the need for post processing. Australian manufacturers will likely benefit through a streamlined manufacturing process resulting in increased profitability in existing markets as well as expansion into new global markets.Read moreRead less