Research
The field of materials science and engineering offers unlimited possibilities for innovation and development. Australia is a country rich in minerals and materials science is a priority area for research and development. Advanced materials and improvements in sustainability can give manufacturing companies, in virtually any industry, the edge over their competitors.
ARC Linkage Grants:
In June 2015 three of our academic staff were successful in obtaining Australian Research Council (ARC) Linkage grants:
Professor Alan Crosky, et al
Onset Theory: Pushing the design envelope for textile composite structures - $330,000
Professor Chris Sorrell, et al
New paradigm for materials technology for AZS glassmaking refractories - $340,000
Dr Jianqiang Zhang, et al
Understanding the role of nanoparticles in sustainable water based lubricants for hot strip rolling - $377,000
ARC Grants for 2015 funding
The School's academic and research staff have achieved outstanding success in the November 2014 round of Australian Research Council (ARC) grants:
Discovery Grants
Professor Nagy Valanoor and Professor Paul Munroe, et al
Designer defects – a new approach to functional oxide interfaces - $473,900
Dr Jianqiang Zhang and Emeritus Professor David Young
Controlling nickel-base alloy high temperature corrosion in CO2-rich gases - $399,500
Professor Paul Munroe, et al
Design of tough, durable and corrosion-resistant coatings - $325,500
Professor Sean Li, et al
Beyond Phononic Crystals – building new concepts to enhance thermoelectricity - $384,700
Professor Mark Hoffman, et al
Fatigue in lead-free piezoceramics - $369,900
Professor Michael Ferry and Dr Kevin Laws, et al
Ultra-lightweight alloys with unique multi-dimensional property profiles - $355,100
DECRA Awards
Dr Manuel Hinterstein
On the origin of high-strain in lead-free piezoelectric materials - $315,000
Dr Chunguang Tang
Materials design for self-toughening bulk metallic glasses - $368,000
LIEF Grants
Dr Jan Seidel, et al
Next-generation electronic and magnetic materials characterisation facility - $760,000
Dr Judy Hart (project led by Dane McCamey, Physics), et al
Fabrication facility for oxygen-sensitive electronic materials - $240,000
Recent Research
Recent significant developments by our School include the emergence of environmentally friendly and economical metal processing methods, advanced surface coatings, electrical ceramics, engineering polymers and advanced composites. Read about some of our recent research projects.
Materials Research at UNSW
Our School has strong research interests, ranging from materials production (including extraction from ores and refining) to the design, development, processing and recycling of materials for use in industries like aerospace, transportation, electronics, energy conversion and biomedical systems.
We focus on the development and processing of metals, ceramics, polymers and composites with improved properties.
Fields of Research
- Biochar
- Biomaterials
- Black coal utilisation
- Ceramics
- Chemical gas sensors
- Composites
- Electronic and superconducting ceramics
- Fracture, failure and wear
- High-temperature materials
- Pyrometallurgical processes
- Materials for energy conversion - solar hydrogen
- Nanotechnology
- Nanomaterials hydrogen storage group
- Particulate science and technology
- Physical metallurgy
- Polymers
- Sustainable processing of materials
