Novel Waterborne Multifunctional Sealer for Asphalt Pavement. One of the long-term challenges and most serious problems faced by the asphalt surfacing and road construction industry is the rapid deterioration of asphaltic surfaces to the extent that they become unfit/unsafe for use in short time. The length of the Australian local government road system is approximately 810,000 kilometres and currently approximately $2,460 million/year is spent on road maintenance; the replacement value of ....Novel Waterborne Multifunctional Sealer for Asphalt Pavement. One of the long-term challenges and most serious problems faced by the asphalt surfacing and road construction industry is the rapid deterioration of asphaltic surfaces to the extent that they become unfit/unsafe for use in short time. The length of the Australian local government road system is approximately 810,000 kilometres and currently approximately $2,460 million/year is spent on road maintenance; the replacement value of the road asset exceeds $106,000 million. Thus providing satisfactory tough protective shield on asphalt pavements that locks out destructive elements and provide long-term protection is of enormous economic importance and national/community benefit.Read moreRead less
Advanced Nanoscale Materials Engineered from Diatomaceous Earth. Using natural materials of diatomaceous earth (DE) as a cheap and available resource by applying synthetic routes this project is directed towards the innovative development of new nanoscale materials with advanced properties. New mesoporous materials with intricate 3-D structures and nano sized features will be engineered from diatom silica for use in demanding applications such as separation and catalysis. These research outcomes ....Advanced Nanoscale Materials Engineered from Diatomaceous Earth. Using natural materials of diatomaceous earth (DE) as a cheap and available resource by applying synthetic routes this project is directed towards the innovative development of new nanoscale materials with advanced properties. New mesoporous materials with intricate 3-D structures and nano sized features will be engineered from diatom silica for use in demanding applications such as separation and catalysis. These research outcomes will enhance Australia's capacity in frontier technology and advanced materials, as well as bringing a competitive advantage to local industry through the development of such advanced materials.Read moreRead less
Flame-Retarding and Mechanically Resilient Elastomer Composites. This project will develop a new generation of flame-retarding and mechanically resilient elastomer composites by taking advantage of nanoscale effect and synergy. The outcomes will be two types of flame-retarding additive pellets and their elastomer composites; these pellets also suit other polymers such as thermoplastics. The elastomer composites are expected to have excellent flame retardancy, mechanical properties, and fatigue p ....Flame-Retarding and Mechanically Resilient Elastomer Composites. This project will develop a new generation of flame-retarding and mechanically resilient elastomer composites by taking advantage of nanoscale effect and synergy. The outcomes will be two types of flame-retarding additive pellets and their elastomer composites; these pellets also suit other polymers such as thermoplastics. The elastomer composites are expected to have excellent flame retardancy, mechanical properties, and fatigue performance, to meet the demands from industrial partners. The project will provide a platform for elastomer manufacturing industry to develop flame-retarding, high-performance products for domestic applications and for export. Read moreRead less
Strong and Durable Flame-Retarding Composites by Multi-scale Encapsulation and Reinforcement. Fires cause approximately $100 million damage to Australian buildings each year. The effects of fire can be significantly reduced through microencapsulation of fire-retarding chemicals in composites used in the building industry. This project aims to encapsulate such chemicals in natural microtubules and develop cost-effective polymer/microtubule/graphene oxide composites that combine superior fire resi ....Strong and Durable Flame-Retarding Composites by Multi-scale Encapsulation and Reinforcement. Fires cause approximately $100 million damage to Australian buildings each year. The effects of fire can be significantly reduced through microencapsulation of fire-retarding chemicals in composites used in the building industry. This project aims to encapsulate such chemicals in natural microtubules and develop cost-effective polymer/microtubule/graphene oxide composites that combine superior fire resistance with high durability in a wide range of applications.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
Development of Multilayered Packaging Materials with Controlled Barrier Properties. The project aims to develop advanced new material for multilayered packaging with high oxygen and moisture barrier properties for cost effective packaging applications. Poly Products currently imports and uses some polymer as its key component for controlling barrier property of their food packaging. However, the new nanostructured material when sandwiched between less expensive materials in a multilayered packag ....Development of Multilayered Packaging Materials with Controlled Barrier Properties. The project aims to develop advanced new material for multilayered packaging with high oxygen and moisture barrier properties for cost effective packaging applications. Poly Products currently imports and uses some polymer as its key component for controlling barrier property of their food packaging. However, the new nanostructured material when sandwiched between less expensive materials in a multilayered packaging film will yield excellent barrier properties, leading to extended shelf life of different food products. The new smart material will generate significant material saving and replace the imported polymer, and will secure export market of the product in Asia -Pacific region.Read moreRead less
Materials Engineering Solutions for Tomorrow's Water Resources. This proposal concerns the development of advanced technologies informed by knowledge management systems to ensure the continued provision of high-quality drinking water to Australian. This is particularly important as we see the impacts from climate change and extreme weather variability with catastrophic consequences such as recently seen in Victoria and in Queensland on water catchments and water quality and supply. The challenge ....Materials Engineering Solutions for Tomorrow's Water Resources. This proposal concerns the development of advanced technologies informed by knowledge management systems to ensure the continued provision of high-quality drinking water to Australian. This is particularly important as we see the impacts from climate change and extreme weather variability with catastrophic consequences such as recently seen in Victoria and in Queensland on water catchments and water quality and supply. The challenges of adequate water resourcing, both in quantity and quality, for Australians who wish to lead healthy and productive lives are serious and require collaboration between industry, government and research providers such as is proposed here. 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
Removal and degradation of microplastics using halloysite nanocomposite. The project aims to utilize halloysite clay combined with novel highly magnetized nanoparticles for the removal and degradation of microplastics in the contaminated water system. The project expects to fabricate cheap and environmentally-friendly materials using innovative chemical synthesis and surface modification for adsorption and decomposition of microplastics utilizing both high surface area of halloysite nanotubes a ....Removal and degradation of microplastics using halloysite nanocomposite. The project aims to utilize halloysite clay combined with novel highly magnetized nanoparticles for the removal and degradation of microplastics in the contaminated water system. The project expects to fabricate cheap and environmentally-friendly materials using innovative chemical synthesis and surface modification for adsorption and decomposition of microplastics utilizing both high surface area of halloysite nanotubes and catalytic activity of transition metals. This project will facilitate collaboration between multidisciplinary researchers and a vibrant group of industrial participants to advance next-generation composite materials for water treatment and ensure the supply of clean water for healthy living.Read moreRead less
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