Posted: August 23, 2008 |
Partnership accelerates research into new-generation plastics |
(Nanowerk News) A sustainable future for the plastics industry is a step closer to reality, thanks to a new agreement between The University of Queensland and Queen's University Belfast.
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The partnership, between UQ's School of Engineering and QUB's School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, is based around collaborative research on polymers and strengthens existing bonds between the two schools.
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Ranging from car parts to adhesives, polymers are long, chain-like molecules that make up almost 98 percent of the plastic products and packaging we encounter daily.
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The new international agreement will accelerate research into new-generation plastics that are biodegradable, and environmentally friendly manufacturing techniques.
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Director of the Centre for High Performance Polymers in the School of Engineering, Associate Professor Peter Halley, said polymer research was vital in developing a sustainable future for the plastics industry.
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“The partnership connects leading researchers and research laboratories in nanocomposites, biopolymers and polymer processing, and allows us to share equipment and expertise,” Dr Halley said.
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Researchers from both universities have been instrumental in helping local and international companies design and develop new machinery and products using advanced polymers.
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Nanocomposites Group Leader Dr Darren Martin said the complementary technologies developed as part of the partnership were likely to generate new intellectual property and start-up companies in packaging, health and other areas.
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“There are a number of collaborative research projects underway, such as a joint project on nanostructured drug delivery materials,” Dr Martin said.
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“UQ PhD graduate Dr Kayleen Campbell worked on these materials at QUB. Now back at UQ, we are assessing the important biological interactions of these nanomaterials.”
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The two universities are internationally recognised in novel nanomaterials design, biomaterials, polymer rheology, polymer processing and process modelling.
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UQ researchers involved include Dr Halley, Dr Darren Martin, Associate Professor Rowan Truss, Dr Timothy Nicholson and Professor Justin Cooper-White.
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