Nanocomm Hub Newsletter - April 2020
From the Director
Taking our research to market
I'm pleased to announce the launch of the Nanocomm Hub's 2019 Annual Report. It will be distributed along with the Hub economic impact study conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) Consulting. Together these documents make a strong case for adopting our technologies and products, paving the way to research commercialisation on a large scale.
The Annual Report (click to view full report) lays out the background, rationale and outcomes of our work across the construction, transport, waste, aquaculture and mining sectors. It underscores the breadth and depth of our research, and strong industry partnerships, in pursuit of nanoscience-based innovations for a more efficient, sustainable and livable Australia.
The PwC study (click to view full report) complements the Annual Report with its evaluation of the probable and possible economic impacts of nine representative Hub projects, and an assessment of the "technology readiness" of each. It details the inputs, assumptions and limitations of the highly regarded computable general equilibrium (CGE) model used in its economic analysis.
From 2020 to 2050, the overall estimated impacts include an increase of $400-1870 million in gross domestic product, $155-$560 million in real wages, $110-490 in household consumption, $160-$790 million in investment, and $180-590 in Australian exports. These exceptional findings clearly attest to the Hub's enormous potential, and will help us more effectively market our work.
The Hub continues to thrive despite ongoing COVID-19 restrictions. Here's what some of our industry partners say:
These challenging times bring out innovation, and we've responded by changing our plant to meet market demands. --- Dr Phillip Arena, Fortis Adhesives & Coatings
We're managing very well because we've set up technologies and processes to operate remotely. Our laboratories are still operational. --- Dr Richard Yeo, ARRB
While working from home, we remain fully engaged with students, academics, research fellows, chief investigators and industry partners, making the most of Zoom and other means of communication. The interconnectivity of the Hub community holds strong.
Wenhui Duan, Director, ARC Nanocomm Hub
Featured Project
Hub researchers awarded ARC funding to innovate tram networks
In the latest round of Australian Research Council (ARC) Linkage Project funding, Associate Professor Wenyi Yan and Mr Peter Mutton, Nanocomm Hub researchers at Monash University, have been awarded $268,506 to explore laser cladding for cost-effective maintenance of tram networks.
Wear and rolling contact fatigue (RCF) are common causes of railway surface damage. Using laser energy to melt powdered metal, the team will create a material that can be applied to the surface of new or damaged rail components, forming a solid protective cladding.
"In this project, we will develop laser cladding technology to repair damaged switch blades and mono-block crossings used in light rail (tram) tracks," says Associate Professor Yan. "Working with our industry partner LaserBond, we will carry out full-scale field tests on these components in the Yarra Trams network. Such testing is the last and most important step towards putting this new technology into practice."
Previously, these researchers had conducted a study confirming that, with the right materials and process, laser cladding could successfully counter wear and RCF damage in the high-strength hypereutectoid steel rails used in Australian heavy haul railways. This discovery laid the groundwork for their current focus on these specific types of damage in track components.
The newly funded study aims to produce an advanced technology that will extend the longevity of rails and track components, ensuring their structural integrity and optimising the performance of rail infrastructure. This, in turn, will allow manufacturers and operators of railway networks to improve their maintenance strategies.
The capacity to repair and reuse damaged components will no doubt forge our future. "Laser cladding - or direct laser metal deposition - is a type of 3D printing for metallic components," explains Associate Professor Yan. "We will see more and more applications of 3D printing in manufacturing and remanufacturing."
Congratulations to Associate Professor Yan and Mr Mutton on winning this highly competitive grant. It is a testament to their outstanding commitment and strong industry partnerships.
Featured People
DECRA fellow Sherry Zhang views research from a wide angle
Trained in civil engineering and physics during her doctoral years, Dr Qianhui "Sherry" Zhang brings multidisciplinary skills and broad research interests to the Nanocomm Hub. As an Australian Research Council (ARC) Discovery Early Career Research Award (DECRA) fellow, she probes both the fundamental physics and engineering characteristics of novel 2D nanomaterials and their nanocomposites.
Dr Zhang primarily focuses on the synthesis and characterisation of these nanomaterials, incorporating them into engineering materials, such as timber, polymer and cement. She aims to augment the mechanical performance and multifunctionality of the nanocomposites. She also hopes to advance next-generation sensor development and energy conservation for the construction industry.
"This industry faces the growing challenges of a high carbon footprint and enormous energy consumption, creating an urgent need to develop stronger, more durable and more sustainable construction materials," says Dr Zhang. "Emerging 2D nanomaterials, such as graphene, show superior mechanical properties and multifunctionalities that make them well suited for integration into construction materials. In exploring these, we can reimagine the construction industry."
As part of the 2+2 Program, Dr Zhang completed her final two years of undergraduate civil engineering at Monash University after her first two at Central South University in China. (2+2 graduates earn two bachelor's degrees, one from each university, making them global engineers.) She then completed her PhD in Civil Engineering at Monash before being awarded her DECRA fellowship there.
"Working in the Hub, I have the opportunity to connect and work closely with diverse research groups, as well as industry and government partners," explains Dr Zhang. "This greatly broadens my views and boosts my creativity. It also helps me to understand the needs of different stakeholders and orient my research directions."
Still early in her career, Dr Zhang has already published a number of articles in high-impact journals, such as Advanced Functional Materials, ACS Nano and Advanced Optical Materials. Watch this space. Find more about Dr Zhang.
Upcoming Events
NICOM7 - 7th International Symposium on Nanotechnology in Construction
For more information and abstract submission: https://www.monash.edu/nanocomm/NICOM7