Crack Propagation within Graded Interfaces. Functionally graded interfaces are a technologically new way of joining materials in a wide range of biomedical and industrial applications. The reduction in the interfacial stresses resulting from the graded interface increases the structural integrity of the component, however, existing models do not fully address issues of plasticity and cyclic fatigue to their fracture. The intention of this study is to investigate how modifications to the ductil ....Crack Propagation within Graded Interfaces. Functionally graded interfaces are a technologically new way of joining materials in a wide range of biomedical and industrial applications. The reduction in the interfacial stresses resulting from the graded interface increases the structural integrity of the component, however, existing models do not fully address issues of plasticity and cyclic fatigue to their fracture. The intention of this study is to investigate how modifications to the ductile reinforcement phase and how the cyclic loading influence crack extension within a graded interface. These results will assist in future design and prediction of the in-service lifetime of components containing gradient interfaces.Read moreRead less
Some Outstanding Mechanics Problems in Layered Ferroelectromagnetic Composites with Enhanced Magnetoelectric Effect. The proposed research has high impact on both science and technology of ferroelectromagnetic materials. The outcomes will expand Australia's knowledge base and research capability in this emerging field. Relevant industries, such as smart materials and devices, can benefit from the results of this project. The theoretical, experimental and numerical results can be directly transfo ....Some Outstanding Mechanics Problems in Layered Ferroelectromagnetic Composites with Enhanced Magnetoelectric Effect. The proposed research has high impact on both science and technology of ferroelectromagnetic materials. The outcomes will expand Australia's knowledge base and research capability in this emerging field. Relevant industries, such as smart materials and devices, can benefit from the results of this project. The theoretical, experimental and numerical results can be directly transformed to design and application guidelines for the materials engineers and scientists to develop innovative and structurally/functionally reliable ferroelectromagnetic composites and their various devices and products.Read moreRead less
Surface Polymorphism of Hard Brittle Materials. The knowledge gained from this project will be of great value in creating components of hard brittle materials with enhanced properties and expanded margins of application. The outcome will have impact on the ultra-precision manufacturing giving a competitive edge to the Australian fabrication industry. The fundamental knowledge gained from this project has the potential to facilitate the development of new devices and techniques such as those requ ....Surface Polymorphism of Hard Brittle Materials. The knowledge gained from this project will be of great value in creating components of hard brittle materials with enhanced properties and expanded margins of application. The outcome will have impact on the ultra-precision manufacturing giving a competitive edge to the Australian fabrication industry. The fundamental knowledge gained from this project has the potential to facilitate the development of new devices and techniques such as those required for bio-medical, photonic and electronic technologies.Read moreRead less
Engineering of Crystalline Ternary Ceramic Precursors. Ti3SiC2 belongs to a large group of ternary carbides that exhibit an unique combination of high temperature ceramic properties, with the electrical and thermal conductivity of metals. A great number of potential applications have been identified, but are currently limited by residual intermediate compounds, that degrade the properties. This project will use crystal structure similarities between TiCx and Ti3SiC2 to engineer a crystalline pre ....Engineering of Crystalline Ternary Ceramic Precursors. Ti3SiC2 belongs to a large group of ternary carbides that exhibit an unique combination of high temperature ceramic properties, with the electrical and thermal conductivity of metals. A great number of potential applications have been identified, but are currently limited by residual intermediate compounds, that degrade the properties. This project will use crystal structure similarities between TiCx and Ti3SiC2 to engineer a crystalline precursor, Ti3C2, which circumvents intermediate compound formation. This innovative methodology will also reduce the cost and time of fabrication. Advanced in-situ neutron diffraction techniques will be used to quantify the synthesis kinetics and optimize the method.Read moreRead less
A new paradigm in near-net-shape advanced ceramic component processing. The raw materials for high performance ceramics (such as alumina and zirconia) are readily available and produced in Australia. Nearly all of these raw materials are exported. The development of processing to make high value added ceramic components from these raw materials will result in greater profit and more jobs for Australians. The proposed research is to develop a novel innovative process to drive a value adding ce ....A new paradigm in near-net-shape advanced ceramic component processing. The raw materials for high performance ceramics (such as alumina and zirconia) are readily available and produced in Australia. Nearly all of these raw materials are exported. The development of processing to make high value added ceramic components from these raw materials will result in greater profit and more jobs for Australians. The proposed research is to develop a novel innovative process to drive a value adding ceramic processing industry in Australia.Read moreRead less
Oxide Bioceramics for Drug Delivery. Australia has the highest rate of skin cancer in the world. One out of every two Australians will develop skin cancer at some stage during their lives. On average, 740,000 new cases of skin cancer are diagnosed in Australia every year (1 million in the USA). The cost to Australia is over $200 million/year. While today more people are aware of the dangers of UV, the desire to be fashionable outweighs their health concerns. Melanotan is a novel sunscreen soluti ....Oxide Bioceramics for Drug Delivery. Australia has the highest rate of skin cancer in the world. One out of every two Australians will develop skin cancer at some stage during their lives. On average, 740,000 new cases of skin cancer are diagnosed in Australia every year (1 million in the USA). The cost to Australia is over $200 million/year. While today more people are aware of the dangers of UV, the desire to be fashionable outweighs their health concerns. Melanotan is a novel sunscreen solution: a drug that stimulates the body's natural defence mechanism against UV light. Alumina and zirconia bioceramics are ideal implantable drug delivery vehicles because of the long leaching periods possible.Read moreRead less
Design Optimisation for Fabrication of Ceramic Prosthetic Devices. The project aims to develop computer aided design and fabrication for ceramic prosthesis. It will help establish a world-class biomedical instrumentation company having part of its research and development in Australia. The study will not only foster domestic research expertise, but also provide the local prosthetic community and biomedical industry with an opportunity to participate in further innovation of biomaterials, biomedi ....Design Optimisation for Fabrication of Ceramic Prosthetic Devices. The project aims to develop computer aided design and fabrication for ceramic prosthesis. It will help establish a world-class biomedical instrumentation company having part of its research and development in Australia. The study will not only foster domestic research expertise, but also provide the local prosthetic community and biomedical industry with an opportunity to participate in further innovation of biomaterials, biomedical software and equipment. The outcomes will directly benefit the Australian prosthetic profession. Improvement in prosthesis restorative longevity for our increasing ageing population will support the national research goal of ageing well, ageing productively.Read moreRead less
Engineering quantum-size bioceramics: Photocatalytic / sonocatalytic ceria. This project aims to design and engineer photocatalytic ceria of systematically controlled grain sizes and morphologies, using doping methods to achieve pure and mixed quantum confinement (which enhances performance). The intended outcomes of the computation, fabrication, and validation approach are a fundamental knowledge of the processing-performance matrix and reproducible photocatalysts of optimised performance. Whil ....Engineering quantum-size bioceramics: Photocatalytic / sonocatalytic ceria. This project aims to design and engineer photocatalytic ceria of systematically controlled grain sizes and morphologies, using doping methods to achieve pure and mixed quantum confinement (which enhances performance). The intended outcomes of the computation, fabrication, and validation approach are a fundamental knowledge of the processing-performance matrix and reproducible photocatalysts of optimised performance. While these ceramics will be applied as bioceramics, which can be activated by ultraviolet light, X-rays and ultrasound, the benefits will be applicable in energy (solar cells, photoelectrodes) and the environment (air and water purification).Read moreRead less
Atomistic mechanisms of the mechanical behaviour of nanostructured silicon carbide films. Advanced silicon carbide (SiC) ceramics are leading candidates for applications in high-power, high-speed machining and high-temperature structural components. Superhardness and high ductility (or high fracture toughness), which have been realized in some nanostructured (ns) SiC films and nanowires, respectively, are desirable properties for many applications. This project aims to understand the mechanisms ....Atomistic mechanisms of the mechanical behaviour of nanostructured silicon carbide films. Advanced silicon carbide (SiC) ceramics are leading candidates for applications in high-power, high-speed machining and high-temperature structural components. Superhardness and high ductility (or high fracture toughness), which have been realized in some nanostructured (ns) SiC films and nanowires, respectively, are desirable properties for many applications. This project aims to understand the mechanisms behind the exceptional properties in ns SiC and to explore the possibility of realizing the two properties in the same ns SiC. The results obtained from this research will be very important for guiding the structural design of SiC with exceptional mechanical properties which will have a wide range of structural applications.Read moreRead less
Unlocking the ion selectivity of lithium superionic conductor membranes. This project aims to address a longstanding challenge in designing advanced membranes to enable sustainable lithium refining by unlocking the ion selectivity of lithium superionic conductors. This project expects to generate new knowledge in the areas of membrane science and emerging nanoionics by using interdisciplinary approaches. Expected outcomes of this project include a novel class of lithium separation membranes and ....Unlocking the ion selectivity of lithium superionic conductor membranes. This project aims to address a longstanding challenge in designing advanced membranes to enable sustainable lithium refining by unlocking the ion selectivity of lithium superionic conductors. This project expects to generate new knowledge in the areas of membrane science and emerging nanoionics by using interdisciplinary approaches. Expected outcomes of this project include a novel class of lithium separation membranes and their fabrication techniques. This should provide significant benefits in improving lithium extraction and recycling efficiency, reducing their environmental impact and building the research capacity in advanced membrane manufacturing and critical mineral refining in Australia. Read moreRead less