Biocompatible magnesium alloys with specific materials properties. This project aims to develop biocompatible magnesium alloys with highly desirable mechanical properties and degradation on demand, and the fundamental science to achieve the materials properties. Injured human bones often need biomaterials to restore function. This project’s magnesium biomaterials could change the biomaterials field by making implant removal surgery unnecessary, and avoiding the adverse tissue reactions and stres ....Biocompatible magnesium alloys with specific materials properties. This project aims to develop biocompatible magnesium alloys with highly desirable mechanical properties and degradation on demand, and the fundamental science to achieve the materials properties. Injured human bones often need biomaterials to restore function. This project’s magnesium biomaterials could change the biomaterials field by making implant removal surgery unnecessary, and avoiding the adverse tissue reactions and stress shielding typically associated with conventional implanting metals. The outcomes are expected to provide insights in designing biodegradable magnesium alloys and surface coating technology, and generate intellectual properties and advanced biomaterials that will benefit the Australian ageing population.Read moreRead less
Dynamically responding metals: a new generation of engineering alloys. The manufacture of engineering metals is a major Australian industry and the worldwide metal manufacturing sector is estimated to be worth $1 trillion USD per annum. Advanced materials and, particularly the light metals, are both designated national research priority areas. The availability of new classes of metals with greatly improved combinations of properties will profoundly affect not only metal use by existing industry, ....Dynamically responding metals: a new generation of engineering alloys. The manufacture of engineering metals is a major Australian industry and the worldwide metal manufacturing sector is estimated to be worth $1 trillion USD per annum. Advanced materials and, particularly the light metals, are both designated national research priority areas. The availability of new classes of metals with greatly improved combinations of properties will profoundly affect not only metal use by existing industry, through the introduction of new, stronger and safer metal grades, but also allows for new engineering designs which will lead, for example, to lighter and more efficient automobiles and more sustainable construction.Read moreRead less
New reactivity from unusual main group compounds. This project will develop new, fundamentally important, yet unusual main group compounds and investigate their reactivity. The project will lead to important fundamental advance in main group chemistry and will form the basis for cheaper and cleaner future synthetic methodologies and technologies.
Geobiological gold cycling: Golden opportunities for the minerals industry. This project aims to develop new geobiological tools for gold exploration and processing that are rooted in a fundamental understanding of geobiological gold cycling. Given the high production costs, the sustainability of the Australian gold industry relies strongly on innovation. Yet, there are many gaps in our fundamental understanding of bio (geo)chemical gold dispersion and precipitation. This project aims to fill th ....Geobiological gold cycling: Golden opportunities for the minerals industry. This project aims to develop new geobiological tools for gold exploration and processing that are rooted in a fundamental understanding of geobiological gold cycling. Given the high production costs, the sustainability of the Australian gold industry relies strongly on innovation. Yet, there are many gaps in our fundamental understanding of bio (geo)chemical gold dispersion and precipitation. This project aims to fill these gaps by linking biochemical pathways of gold mobilisation and resistance in bacteria to its transport and biomineralisation. This would enable the development of protein-based biosensors, bioindicators and nanovectors. These would support the development of exploration and bioaccumulation technologies that allow more economically sustainable and environmentally viable mining practices, such as enhancing production from subeconomic ore.Read moreRead less
Next generation titanium alloys for additive manufacturing. The rise of 3D printing creates unique opportunities for Australian manufacturers to participate in high value global supply chains. However, the lack of development in high quality printable materials is stopping manufacturers from accessing the full potential of 3D printing. This project aims to develop a design strategy for the next generation of titanium metals designed for 3D printing. This project expects to improve functionality ....Next generation titanium alloys for additive manufacturing. The rise of 3D printing creates unique opportunities for Australian manufacturers to participate in high value global supply chains. However, the lack of development in high quality printable materials is stopping manufacturers from accessing the full potential of 3D printing. This project aims to develop a design strategy for the next generation of titanium metals designed for 3D printing. This project expects to improve functionality of 3D printed metals with qualities that go beyond the most demanding industry acceptance criteria. This project should provide significant benefits by creating new capabilities and improving the productivity of Australian manufacturers while lowering the cost of products for consumers.Read moreRead less
Probing gold in hot ore fluids: experiments and molecular dynamics simulations. In order to efficiently discover vital new mineral resources for Australia, explorers must understand the fundamental controls on ore formation. The lack of data for soluble metal behaviour in hot fluids at high pressure is a significant impediment to our understanding of deposit formation and for the application of industrial processes, such as hydrometallurgy. This project will gain molecular-level understanding of ....Probing gold in hot ore fluids: experiments and molecular dynamics simulations. In order to efficiently discover vital new mineral resources for Australia, explorers must understand the fundamental controls on ore formation. The lack of data for soluble metal behaviour in hot fluids at high pressure is a significant impediment to our understanding of deposit formation and for the application of industrial processes, such as hydrometallurgy. This project will gain molecular-level understanding of the fundamental chemistry of gold transport and deposition in high temperature, high-pressure, carbon dioxide-rich fluids and gold colloid systems, using multiple novel experimental techniques and molecular dynamics simulations that make use of Australia’s cutting-edge experimental and computational facilities.Read moreRead less
Mechanics of innovative high precision rolling technology in micromanufacturing. This project will focus on the establishment of high precision rolling technology for manufacturing microparts in Australia by using a unique profile and flexible rolling method. A successful outcome will provide an important breakthrough in the microrolling area and new knowledge for advanced micromanufacturing technology and its applications.
Particles at Interfaces—Controlling Detachment. Small, solid particles affect the processes used by the Australian mining industry to recover precious metals and valuable minerals in ways that remain poorly understood. The outcomes of this project will make significant contributions to the fundamental understanding of the role of particles in emulsions and foams. The results will also ultimately transfer to, and have a substantial impact on, the pharmaceutical industry, which is poised to use na ....Particles at Interfaces—Controlling Detachment. Small, solid particles affect the processes used by the Australian mining industry to recover precious metals and valuable minerals in ways that remain poorly understood. The outcomes of this project will make significant contributions to the fundamental understanding of the role of particles in emulsions and foams. The results will also ultimately transfer to, and have a substantial impact on, the pharmaceutical industry, which is poised to use nanotechnology to revolutionise drug delivery.Read moreRead less
Structure-property relationships in compositionally complex alloys. Physical metallurgy has entered a new era of compositionally complex metallic alloys that show unprecedented combinations of mechanical properties enabling the design of more energy-efficient and economically viable applications. This project aims to generate new knowledge about how locally-resolved, nano-scale atomic arrangements control macroscopic deformation behavior in these materials and develop a fundamental understanding ....Structure-property relationships in compositionally complex alloys. Physical metallurgy has entered a new era of compositionally complex metallic alloys that show unprecedented combinations of mechanical properties enabling the design of more energy-efficient and economically viable applications. This project aims to generate new knowledge about how locally-resolved, nano-scale atomic arrangements control macroscopic deformation behavior in these materials and develop a fundamental understanding of their processing-structure-fracture toughness relationships. Expected outcomes include an enhanced capacity to design materials with damage-tolerant properties superior to existing alloys from bottom up, thereby allowing for commercial benefits throughout transportation, defense, and biomedical device sectors.Read moreRead less
Synthesis, Synergy and Sustainability: Development of active-metal reagents. The design and realisation of new and important molecules requires innovative and efficient methods. This project will create a new store of active-metal molecular tools for the selective, catalytic and atom efficient construction of a diverse library of phosphorus heterocyclic scaffolds and chemical feedstocks relevant to biological, medicinal, and materials chemistry, and the fine chemical industry. Parallel studies e ....Synthesis, Synergy and Sustainability: Development of active-metal reagents. The design and realisation of new and important molecules requires innovative and efficient methods. This project will create a new store of active-metal molecular tools for the selective, catalytic and atom efficient construction of a diverse library of phosphorus heterocyclic scaffolds and chemical feedstocks relevant to biological, medicinal, and materials chemistry, and the fine chemical industry. Parallel studies employing environmentally friendly and benign deep eutectic solvents will allow for replacement of traditional hazardous volatile organic solvents, putting the newly created active-metal reagents at the forefront of the necessary shift towards a more sustainable and 'green' polar organometallic chemistry. Read moreRead less