Condition Assessment of Medium-Voltage XLPE-Insulated Cables Degraded by Water Treeing. In Australia degraded underground XLPE cables are causing disruption of electricity supplies and high community costs. There is no reliable non-invasive technique for prediction of cable condition to optimise cable replacement and refurbishment. In this project a large-scale experiment will be undertaken on 22 kV cables to ascertain the effectiveness of a new cable refurbishment technology. New techniques for ....Condition Assessment of Medium-Voltage XLPE-Insulated Cables Degraded by Water Treeing. In Australia degraded underground XLPE cables are causing disruption of electricity supplies and high community costs. There is no reliable non-invasive technique for prediction of cable condition to optimise cable replacement and refurbishment. In this project a large-scale experiment will be undertaken on 22 kV cables to ascertain the effectiveness of a new cable refurbishment technology. New techniques for assessment of cable condition will be developed using unique data from the ageing experiment and computer models of fundamental phenomena. Successful conclusions from this project will save the industry partner and other electricity distribution companies tens of millions of dollars.Read moreRead less
Tailored Biodegradable Polymers for Injection Moulding Applications. This project aims to engineer and scale up production of biodegradable injection molded products with tailored properties, processing and biodegradation. Specifically we will focus on novel materials and processing technologies in tandem with biodegradation understandings to expand the utilization of starch-based polymers. We will then combine fundamental rheological and polymer processing skills with and product development ex ....Tailored Biodegradable Polymers for Injection Moulding Applications. This project aims to engineer and scale up production of biodegradable injection molded products with tailored properties, processing and biodegradation. Specifically we will focus on novel materials and processing technologies in tandem with biodegradation understandings to expand the utilization of starch-based polymers. We will then combine fundamental rheological and polymer processing skills with and product development experience from both universities and the industrial partner (Plantic Technologies) to scale up processing and develop successful biodegradable products. This project will also enable an Australian owned start-up company with a broad shareholder base to generate significant export income through key commercialization.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0883017
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$300,000.00
Summary
Advanced processing and characterisation facility for functional polymers and polymer nanofibres. The pilot-scale processing and advanced characterisation facility will significantly strengthen R&D capacity for innovative research and development of functional polymers and polymer nanofibres, hence adding value to the $10-billion plus market for plastics, rubber and biopolymers manufactured and used in Australia. It will further strengthen Australia's position in polymer and nanofibre research a ....Advanced processing and characterisation facility for functional polymers and polymer nanofibres. The pilot-scale processing and advanced characterisation facility will significantly strengthen R&D capacity for innovative research and development of functional polymers and polymer nanofibres, hence adding value to the $10-billion plus market for plastics, rubber and biopolymers manufactured and used in Australia. It will further strengthen Australia's position in polymer and nanofibre research and innovation.Read moreRead less
Novel injection moulded polymer substrates for solid phase applications. Solid phase organic reactions form the basis of many applications in drug design and development and medical applications. This project proposes the development of novel solid phase materials via control of novel insitu crosslinking and foaming processes and novel process molding control. This will enable more controlled large scale rapid production and detection of materials for biological and medical uses.
Next generation bioplastics: Production of polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) bioplastics from organic waste. Production of next generation bioplastics by using waste as a resource supports an environmentally sustainable Australia and provides wide-ranging commercial opportunities for Australian businesses. Fundamental research in this field will provide a platform for creation of an Australian Centre of Excellence in PHA bioplastics, which will play an integral role in progressing research on sustainab ....Next generation bioplastics: Production of polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) bioplastics from organic waste. Production of next generation bioplastics by using waste as a resource supports an environmentally sustainable Australia and provides wide-ranging commercial opportunities for Australian businesses. Fundamental research in this field will provide a platform for creation of an Australian Centre of Excellence in PHA bioplastics, which will play an integral role in progressing research on sustainable materials development. The project will provide training and PhD education in environmental biotechnology, and direct commercial benefits to Australia by the development of significant Intellectual Property and linkage between an Australian University and leading players in environment technology commercialisation.Read moreRead less
Fatigue thresholds, crack initiation and small crack growth phenomenon in uPVC, mPVC and Oriented PVC pipes. Unplasticised polyvinylchloride (uPVC) is currently used for water reticulation pipelines. These are subject to variable pressure which can lead to fatigue failures. Improved materials, modified PVC (mPVC) and oriented PVC (oPVC), are now entering this market. uPVC shows a fatigue threshold when prenotched samples are tested. The fatigue threshold is an important design concept since it r ....Fatigue thresholds, crack initiation and small crack growth phenomenon in uPVC, mPVC and Oriented PVC pipes. Unplasticised polyvinylchloride (uPVC) is currently used for water reticulation pipelines. These are subject to variable pressure which can lead to fatigue failures. Improved materials, modified PVC (mPVC) and oriented PVC (oPVC), are now entering this market. uPVC shows a fatigue threshold when prenotched samples are tested. The fatigue threshold is an important design concept since it represents the stress amplitude below which fatigue failures should not occur. Its existence in unnotched pipes and in the newer PVC materials is uncertain. This project will quantify fatigue thresholds and the mechanisms involved in crack initiation in uPVC , mPVC and oPVC.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0453480
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$236,899.00
Summary
Nanostructured Polymer Processing Network. The Nanostructured Polymer Processing Network will promote the understanding and manipulation of the processing of novel nanostructured plastic materials. High technology, online polymer processing equipment will be sought that will enable the design of nanostructured polymers via a range of techniques including insitu polymerisation, nanocomposites and polymer blending which are ideal for designing high value nanostructured polymers that are tailored f ....Nanostructured Polymer Processing Network. The Nanostructured Polymer Processing Network will promote the understanding and manipulation of the processing of novel nanostructured plastic materials. High technology, online polymer processing equipment will be sought that will enable the design of nanostructured polymers via a range of techniques including insitu polymerisation, nanocomposites and polymer blending which are ideal for designing high value nanostructured polymers that are tailored for high performance applications. The equipment in this proposal, when combined with existing leading edge polymer characterisation and analysis equipment, will provide a Network with international state-of-the-art equipment that will fast track the success of integrated research projects across the sites.Read moreRead less
Bioactive Polymers for Wound Healing Applications. VitroGroR is a growth factor complex which enhances cell growth and migration, and hence has great potential for treating wounds. Tissue Therapies, which holds the rights to commercialization of VitroGroR, is seeking to develop methods of delivering VitroGroR in its active form to the wound environment. Two solutions to this problem will be developed in this project; a bioactive bandage containing a novel combination of microspheres and a hydrog ....Bioactive Polymers for Wound Healing Applications. VitroGroR is a growth factor complex which enhances cell growth and migration, and hence has great potential for treating wounds. Tissue Therapies, which holds the rights to commercialization of VitroGroR, is seeking to develop methods of delivering VitroGroR in its active form to the wound environment. Two solutions to this problem will be developed in this project; a bioactive bandage containing a novel combination of microspheres and a hydrogel matrix, and secondly an in-situ polymerisable matrix for treatment of deep wounds. The growth factor complex will be protected from aggressive proteases through encapsulation within microspheres, and the use of MMP-inhibiting comonomers.Read moreRead less
Novel Tough Polymer Composites. Advanced composites are used in high value-added applications such as computer chip packaging and aerospace applications. In these applications epoxy systems are used despite their inherent brittleness. Much research has focused on toughening epoxy systems, but most tougheners cause a reduction in processing or material properties. This project focuses on developing novel epoxy tougheners during the polymerisation of the epoxy-based composite. Specifically we will ....Novel Tough Polymer Composites. Advanced composites are used in high value-added applications such as computer chip packaging and aerospace applications. In these applications epoxy systems are used despite their inherent brittleness. Much research has focused on toughening epoxy systems, but most tougheners cause a reduction in processing or material properties. This project focuses on developing novel epoxy tougheners during the polymerisation of the epoxy-based composite. Specifically we will use novel hyperbranched [star-like] polymers that have excellent processing properties, high reactivity for structure control and the ability to control toughening at the molecular and macroscopic level to produce novel technology for advanced composites.
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Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0560981
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$160,940.00
Summary
Confronting the Challenges in Modern Spectroscopy of Polymers. Polymers and nanocomposites are increasingly being used in new, high value applications as diverse as medicine, structural engineering, optics and electronics. In order to control and understand polymer performance, a detailed knowledge of the chemical structure at all stages in their lifecycle is required - in the liquid, rubber and solid states and during degradation. This application seeks to establish a coordinated Polymer Spectr ....Confronting the Challenges in Modern Spectroscopy of Polymers. Polymers and nanocomposites are increasingly being used in new, high value applications as diverse as medicine, structural engineering, optics and electronics. In order to control and understand polymer performance, a detailed knowledge of the chemical structure at all stages in their lifecycle is required - in the liquid, rubber and solid states and during degradation. This application seeks to establish a coordinated Polymer Spectroscopy Network using new forms of infrared and NMR spectroscopy to probe samples (usually of an non-planar geometry) in a range of configurations. These will be used simultaneously with other techniques such as rheology or thermogravimetry, and will produce capabilities unique in Australia.Read moreRead less