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Cooperative Research Centre for Polymers

One of the Cooperative Research Centres which the Materials Engineering department has been associated with for more than a dozen years is the CRC for Polymers (CRC-P).  Indeed, Monash Materials Engineering was heavily responsible for the original proposal which was successfully funded some 15 years ago. It is currently in its third life, having been renewed twice, and it remains one of the most successful manufacturing CRC’s. Across the whole, new CRC, there are 13 projects earnest since it  began operations in 2005 with researchers and industries in most states. $32 million of this funding is coming directly from the Commonwealth's CRC Programme, with the rest coming from the Centre's participants. The new CRC includes ten companies committed to commercialising the outcomes of the CRC’s research. (For more information on the CRC for Polymers, its partner research providers and companies, with which it is involved, please go to www.crcp.com.au) The new Centre is focused on developing ‘functional’ advanced polymer materials for emerging high-growth opportunities and new applications.  In contrast, the previous CRC for Polymers focused on improving ‘commodity polymers’ for existing applications.

Materials Engineering makes a significant, continuing commitment to the polymer CRC each year. Through the CRC it employs a number of Research Fellows (most listed below) and provides money for scholarships or scholarship top-up for postgraduate study such as PhD’ s be research. It also provides some money for equipment. For any general queries of the involvement of Materials Engineering with the CRC for Polymers, please contact george.simon@eng.monash.edu.au. The projects with which various staff  are involved are all in collaboration with commercial partners and other research organizations and are as follows:

Passive fire protection materials – Prof. Yibing Cheng and Dr Don Rodrigo. 
The aim of this project is to develop ceramifying polymer materials for passive fire protection applications with enhanced properties, particularly improved strength, thermal resistance, thermal insulation, fire retardance and intumescence. (yibing.cheng@eng.monash.edu.au)

Melt-processable biodegradable starch-based plastics – Prof. George Simon and Dr Jana Habsuda.
The aim of this work is to modify starch-based polymers derived from renewable resources to achieve the processing, gas barrier, water resistance, biodegradation, and mechanical properties required to extend their range of application. (george.simon@eng.monash.edu.au)

Effect of additives on polymer properties – Ass. Prof. Graham Edward and Dr Peng Wei Zhu
The aim of this project is to predict the properties of a polymer after processing and adding colorants, given the properties of virgin material. In particular, the Monash work involves use of microscopy and scattering (including wide and small angle, and synchrotron studies) to describe morphology as a function of additives and processing conditions. This includes shear visualisation and imaging in the synchrotron. (graham.edward@eng.monash.edu.au)

Nanoengineered materials – Prof George Simon and Dr Jisheng Ma
The intention here is to make polymer-based materials which are nanoengineered for specialty applications by controlling the microenvironment around compounds or nanoparticles in the polymer matrix. (george.simon@eng.monash.edu.au)

Functional polymer-based microenvironments for controlling cell function in biomanufacturing – Dr John Forsythe and Dr. Xueliang Hou
The aim is to develop synthetic microenvironments to control cell function for use in biomanufacturing including the production of protein or peptide-based pharmaceuticals and cell therapies. In particular this involves engineering smart polymer surfaces for the creation of artificial stem cell niches. The team is currently investigating hematopoietic stem cells (from blood or bone marrow) to produce blood products. (john.forsythe@eng.monash.edu.au)