The Interface of Oil-in-Water Emulsions. The interface between two immiscible liquids controls many phenomena including the formation and properties of emulsions, the nature of many chemical separation processes and the behaviour of biological systems. There are few methods to study such interfaces and most of these are susceptible to trace contamination by adventitious surfactants, but emulsions with their large surface area avoid this problem. Significant advances are possible with the new Aus ....The Interface of Oil-in-Water Emulsions. The interface between two immiscible liquids controls many phenomena including the formation and properties of emulsions, the nature of many chemical separation processes and the behaviour of biological systems. There are few methods to study such interfaces and most of these are susceptible to trace contamination by adventitious surfactants, but emulsions with their large surface area avoid this problem. Significant advances are possible with the new Australian technique of electroacoustics, complemented by neutron scattering, nmr, rheological and dielectric response measurements on concentrated emulsions. Our surfactant-free emulsions provide a fundamental breakthrough in such studies, leading to new materials from nanostructures.Read moreRead less
Stream power and river morphology in partly-confined valleys of coastal New South Wales, Australia. Rivers in the escarpment-dominated catchments of coastal NSW are characterised by confined and partly-confined valley-settings in which channels have little capacity to adjust. The key aim of this project is to determine controls on the distribution of floodplains in this landscape. Particular attention will be placed on the role played by stream power in determining the relationship between val ....Stream power and river morphology in partly-confined valleys of coastal New South Wales, Australia. Rivers in the escarpment-dominated catchments of coastal NSW are characterised by confined and partly-confined valley-settings in which channels have little capacity to adjust. The key aim of this project is to determine controls on the distribution of floodplains in this landscape. Particular attention will be placed on the role played by stream power in determining the relationship between valley incision and lateral expansion processes along river courses. Understanding controls on these rivers is critical in determining how they modify their form in response to various disturbance events (whether 'natural' of human-induced). Results will provide a rigorous basis with which to explain cross-catchment variability in river forms and processes, aiding our capacity to predict future adjustments to disturbance and develop river management strategies that 'work with nature'.Read moreRead less
Biodegradable polymeric microparticles for targeted delivery. The use of microparticles with tuneable physicochemical properties and loading characteristics is of interest in the fields of biomaterials, drug delivery and imaging. Such engineered particles are likely to address problems associated with conventional drugs and drug carriers, including poor disease site selectivity, polymer toxicity, non-biodegradability and free diffusion of drugs throughout the body. These microparticles may provi ....Biodegradable polymeric microparticles for targeted delivery. The use of microparticles with tuneable physicochemical properties and loading characteristics is of interest in the fields of biomaterials, drug delivery and imaging. Such engineered particles are likely to address problems associated with conventional drugs and drug carriers, including poor disease site selectivity, polymer toxicity, non-biodegradability and free diffusion of drugs throughout the body. These microparticles may provide direct advantages to society, including minimally invasive and fast in-vivo diagnostics, localised delivery of drugs and therapeutic agents with increased bioavailability, patient acceptability and reduced healthcare costs.Read moreRead less
STABILISATION OF TITANIA PIGMENTS FOR IMPROVED WATER-BASED PAINT APPLICATIONS. This project aims to improve the stability and optical properties of titania pigments in water-based paints. Tailored dispersing agents will be used to stabilise pigments in paints in both the wet and dry state. Enhanced understanding of the dispersing agents interaction with the titania pigment surface and the subsequent stability of the pigment in dry paint films will allow advances in water-based paint stability. T ....STABILISATION OF TITANIA PIGMENTS FOR IMPROVED WATER-BASED PAINT APPLICATIONS. This project aims to improve the stability and optical properties of titania pigments in water-based paints. Tailored dispersing agents will be used to stabilise pigments in paints in both the wet and dry state. Enhanced understanding of the dispersing agents interaction with the titania pigment surface and the subsequent stability of the pigment in dry paint films will allow advances in water-based paint stability. This understanding facilitates continued movement away from solvent-based paints required by environmental and health legislation. The potential growth in market share for the Australian pigment industry is in excess of $50M pa.Read moreRead less
Stabilisation of Titania Pigment Slurries During Processing. This project aims to improve the stabilisation properties of titania pigment slurries during production. Current polyphosphate dispersants used by Tiwest are unstable under processing conditions. Tailored, robust dispersing reagents will therefore be investigated in order to provide improved stabilisation of pigments during processing. Enhanced understanding of the dispersing reagents interaction with the titania pigment surface and th ....Stabilisation of Titania Pigment Slurries During Processing. This project aims to improve the stabilisation properties of titania pigment slurries during production. Current polyphosphate dispersants used by Tiwest are unstable under processing conditions. Tailored, robust dispersing reagents will therefore be investigated in order to provide improved stabilisation of pigments during processing. Enhanced understanding of the dispersing reagents interaction with the titania pigment surface and the subsequent stability of the pigment will allow advances in processing and consequently improved final products. The potential growth in market share, by improved product performance, is in excess of $50M pa.Read moreRead less
Interfacial Nanofluids. The fundamental understanding of Colloid and Surface Chemistry will be significantly enhanced through the understanding of the formation and properties of interfacial nanofluids. In addition, this project will provide the knowledge of the influence of nanofluids on the lubrication and the surface interaction. The future results will likely have great impact on the development of miniature devices, lab-on-a-chip and microfludics or nanofluidics systems, water treatment, m ....Interfacial Nanofluids. The fundamental understanding of Colloid and Surface Chemistry will be significantly enhanced through the understanding of the formation and properties of interfacial nanofluids. In addition, this project will provide the knowledge of the influence of nanofluids on the lubrication and the surface interaction. The future results will likely have great impact on the development of miniature devices, lab-on-a-chip and microfludics or nanofluidics systems, water treatment, minerals processing, the food industries, pumping of fuel and water, and other processes. And the research described in this proposal will help to maintain the high international profile of Australian science in the field of Colloid and Surface Research. Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0454166
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,305,029.00
Summary
Nanoscale Materials Characterization Facility. We request a transmission and a scanning electron microscope, each with specialist electron probes smaller than a nanometre, which can selectively analyse the atomic structure and chemistry of sub-nanometre regions of material.
These capabilities are essential to advance a large range of research projects at the cutting-edge of materials science and engineering, undertaken by Victoria's leading research institutions: five Victorian universities, ....Nanoscale Materials Characterization Facility. We request a transmission and a scanning electron microscope, each with specialist electron probes smaller than a nanometre, which can selectively analyse the atomic structure and chemistry of sub-nanometre regions of material.
These capabilities are essential to advance a large range of research projects at the cutting-edge of materials science and engineering, undertaken by Victoria's leading research institutions: five Victorian universities, the CSIRO, Nanotechnology Victoria Ltd, the Victorian Centre for Advanced Materials Manufacturing and the CRC for Microtechnology. Together they have contributed $2.58 million to this project.
This state-of-the-art facility will include the highest spatial resolution microscope in Australia.
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Thin Films of Oxide Ceramics. Aluminium oxide films are used extensively in the Australian industries of Protective & Decorative Coatings (examples include door-knobs and cutting-tools). The industry will be offered a remarkably simple process for preparation of high quality films. In the microelectronic industry, the uses of aluminium oxide films as a dielectric alternative to silicon dioxide has just started to emerge world - wide and this new process would make a dramatic impact with commerci ....Thin Films of Oxide Ceramics. Aluminium oxide films are used extensively in the Australian industries of Protective & Decorative Coatings (examples include door-knobs and cutting-tools). The industry will be offered a remarkably simple process for preparation of high quality films. In the microelectronic industry, the uses of aluminium oxide films as a dielectric alternative to silicon dioxide has just started to emerge world - wide and this new process would make a dramatic impact with commercial benefits for Australia. Read moreRead less
Palaeoclimate reconstruction in northwestern China. Records of climatic change between semi-arid regions of the two large continents, China and Australia, provide invaluable data on the manner in which the globe has responded to past environmental changes. Such reconstructions impose constraints on possible patterns of future change.
The visit by an established researcher in Prof. Sun Jiamin will provide new data (including new dates) on the evolution of lakes and dunefields in China, and on ....Palaeoclimate reconstruction in northwestern China. Records of climatic change between semi-arid regions of the two large continents, China and Australia, provide invaluable data on the manner in which the globe has responded to past environmental changes. Such reconstructions impose constraints on possible patterns of future change.
The visit by an established researcher in Prof. Sun Jiamin will provide new data (including new dates) on the evolution of lakes and dunefields in China, and on the climatic conditions which controlled them. The visit builds on and extends the established links between the Chinese Academy of Sciences and staff in the Melbourne University, School of Earth Sciences.
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Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0882821
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$750,000.00
Summary
Ion Beam Nanofabrication and Characterisation Facility for Advanced Materials Research. The requested instrumentation is essential to advance a range of activities at the cutting-edge of materials research and in order to maintain word class research activities in Victoria. The instrumentation requested will build on collaborative links and cultivate enhanced usage of existing facilities between partner organisations. The facility will enhance progress in nanotechnology, biotechnology and materi ....Ion Beam Nanofabrication and Characterisation Facility for Advanced Materials Research. The requested instrumentation is essential to advance a range of activities at the cutting-edge of materials research and in order to maintain word class research activities in Victoria. The instrumentation requested will build on collaborative links and cultivate enhanced usage of existing facilities between partner organisations. The facility will enhance progress in nanotechnology, biotechnology and materials sciences, not only training the next generation of researchers to drive these critical areas, but maintaining Australia's track record as an innovator and developer of advanced materials.Read moreRead less