5_JACS 50_Dan.pdf

Journal of the Australian Ceramics Society Volume 50[1], 2014, 49 68 49

Ceramics Research, Development and Manufacture in

Australia

Dan Perera

School of Materials Science & Engineering, University of New South Wales Sydney NSW 2052

Email: [email protected]

Available Online at: www.austceram.com/ACS-Journal

Abstract

The report is based on the information supplied by various people listed here. The aim was to collate in one

document research, development and manufacture of ceramics in Australia. I have contacted many people based on

internet searches, but did not get a response from some. This Report was first issued in November 2011 and this

version was updated since then.

CURTIN UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY

1.1 Centre for Materials Research

Professor Jim Low ([email protected])

1.1.1 Microstructure Design and

Characterisation of MAX Phases

The development of Mn+1AXn phases such as

Ti3AlC2, Cr2AlC and Ti4AlN3 (Figure 1) with

remarkable physical and mechanical properties is an

ongoing research program at Curtin University for the

past ten years. Research projects and collaborative

work with colleagues from Japan, China, USA and

Sweden have attracted research funds from ARC,

AINSE, ASRP and ISIS to support the work on the

characterization of decomposition kinetics and

oxidation behaviour of MAX phases by neutron

diffraction, synchrotron radiation diffraction, nuclear

magnetic resonance, electron microscopy and

secondary ion mass spectroscopy. Advances in the

understanding of the structure-property relationships

and the factors controlling the thermal stability will

enable the unique multi-functional properties of

MAX phases to be fully utilised in a wide range of

industrial applications, including automobile engine

components, heating elements, rocket engine nozzles,

aircraft brakes, racing car brake pads and low-density

armour.

Fig.1: a) Ti4AlN3 before and b) after decomposition in vacuum at 1600C for 7 h, c) Oxidized Ti3SiC2 and d) Ti2AlC

at 1450C for 1 h.

Perera 50

1.1.2 Microstructural Design of Functionally-

Graded Alumina/Aluminium-Titanate Composites

A study has been conducted on the depth-profiling of

composition, residual strains, mechanical

characteristics and the evaluation of indentation

responses in a layer-graded material (LGM) of

alumina/aluminium-titanate. An infiltration route

fabricates LGM samples with a homogeneous layer of

alumina and a graded layer of heterogeneous

alumina/aluminium-titanate. Depth profiling of

Vickers hardness shows that the hardness of the LGM

is depth dependent with a relatively soft graded layer

but a hard homogeneous layer. The micro-hardness of

the graded layer is load dependent with 5.6 GPa as

the asymptotic value at high loads. Similarly, the

elastic modulus and residual strains are depth-

dependent. The graded layer exhibits a distinctive

softening in the stress-strain curve, indicating a micro-scale quasi-plasticity which can be associated

with grain debonding, grain sliding, diffuse micro-

cracking, grain push-out, and grain bridging. No

contact-induced cracks are observed in the graded

layer and the micro-damage is widely distributed

within the shear-compression zone around and below

the contacts. The capability of the LGM to absorb

energy from the loading system and to distribute

damage is strongly influenced by the existence of

residual strains, which is somewhat akin to that of

ceramics with heterogeneous microstructures. These

materials are suitable for high temperature

applications where thermal shock resistance and

thermal insulation is required, such as components of

internal combustion engines, exhaust port liners,

metallurgy, and thermal barriers. This work was

funded by an ARC Discovery and an ARC Linkage-

International grant.

1.1.3 Characterisation of Nanostructured

TiO2 for Photocatalysis Applications

The primary focus of this project is to characterize

TiO2 nanotubes and nanofibres for use as

photocatalysts for various applications such as

sensors, hydrogen production and treatment of waste-

water. The functional properties of nanostructured

TiO2 as potential photocatalysts have been

investigated. A variety of analytical techniques such

as scanning electron microscopy, transmission

electron microscopy, ion-beam analysis and x-ray

diffraction have been used in the project (Figure 2).

1.1.4 Geopolymer Research

Prof. Arie van Riessen ([email protected])

Geopolymer research has been undertaken at Curtin

for many years, starting in Civil Engineering under

Vijay Rangans leadership and expanding to Applied Physics some years later. Arie van Riessen leads the

current Geopolymer research activities in Physics

with a strong emphasis on development of

geopolymers for fire resistant applications. Alkali

activation of a various Australian fly ashes has

revealed that the composition of the glass phase and

the presence of iron oxides greatly influence the

thermal properties of the subsequent geopolymers.

Fivefold increase in strength after exposure to 1000 oC (Figure 3) has been achieved in samples made

from fly ashes with a desirable composition. The

research team concentrates on characterisation of the

precursor fly ashes as well as the geopolymer to gain

an improved understanding of the geopolymerisation

process to facilitate further optimisation of fire

resistant products. Collaboration with industry and

researchers from Italy and Korea has created a strong

interest in utilisation of industrial residue for

manufacture of alkali activated binders.

Fig. 2: TiO2 nanotube


Fig. 3: a) Geopolymer being exposed to high temperature, b) Foamed geopolymer before (left) and after (right)

exposure to 1000oC. Courtesy William Rickard.

MONASH UNIVERSITY

2.1 Department of Materials Engineering

2.1.1 Structural and Functional Ceramics

http://www.eng.monash.edu.au/materials/research/ca

pability/ceramics.html

Professor Yi-Bing Cheng([email protected])

Dr Jeffrey Sellar ([email protected])

Research projects have been carried out in processing

and characterisation of advanced structural ceramics,

including silicon nitride, sialons, silicon carbide,

boron carbide, titanium boride and their composites.

Through controlled processing, Ca alpha-sialon

ceramics with elongated grain morphology were first

developed by the team at Monash. The materials have

enhanced fracture toughness combining with their

intrinsic high hardness. Collaboration with

researchers in Shanghai Institute of Ceramics,

Chinese Academy of Sciences has led to the

development of a novel SHS (self-propagating high-

temperature synthesis) technique for producing

advanced alpha-sialon ceramics using blast furnace

slag as a starting material (Figure 4). Ceramic wear

parts made of the slag derived sialon have showed

excellent anti erosion and wear performance in onsite

tests.

Ceramic-polymer composites have shown many

interesting properties. The Ceramic Group is involved

in the development of novel ceramifiable polymer-

ceramic composites for fire-performance cables

(Figure 5), supported by the Polymer CRC. Unlike

conventional polymers that typically breakdown in a

fire emergency, the ceramifiable polymer transforms

into a protective ceramic barrier, providing

continuous insulation for the cables to work in a fire

situation and thus saving lives. Mixtures of ceramic

fillers were tailored and incorporated into polymer

matrices, allowing the formation of coherent, strong

and dimensionally stable ceramic residuals after

polymer pyrolysis. The materials were successfully

applied in the manufacturing of the worlds first ceramifiable cables by an Australian company, Olex

Cables, in 2003. Research is continuing to explore the

potential of ceramifiable polymers for broader

passive fire protection applications.

Fig. 4: Ceramic bearing balls made from the slag

derived alpha-sialon

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Fig. 5: Fire performance ceramifiable cables before

(left) and after (right) firing at 1050C.

Development of renewable energy has been a major

driving force for research in recent years. Among

many alternatives, solar energy stands as one of the

most attractive renewable energy sources. Dye

sensitized solar cell (DSSC) employs advanced

nanotechnology and represents the most promising

low-cost alternative to silicon solar cells at the

present time (Figure 4). A major component of DSSC

consists of a nanoporous ceramic (TiO2) film as a

semiconductor electrode. The interest of the Ceramic

Group is to develop the nanoporous semiconductor

films with controlled microstructure and chemistry to

improve solar energy to electricity conversion

efficiency. Projects supported by the ARC, the

Australian Centre of Excellence in Electromaterials

Science and the Victorian organic solar cell

consortium are working on the development of

various dye sensitized solar cells, including

monolithic devices, tandem devices, solid state

devices and flexible solar cells using polymer as

substrates.

Fig. 6: Flexible dye sensitized solarcell on plastic

substrate.

Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) materials are another

departmental ceramics initiative undertaken in the

energy conversion field. Cubic zirconia is at present

the main candidateelectrolyte material for the new generation of high-temperature large-format fuel

cells, whose installed capacities range from the power

requirements of a single house to those of a small

town. These devices, providing a highly efficient

flameless burn of a wide variety of fuels, operate by the conduction of oxygen ions through the solid

zirconia electrolyte, rather than by the conduction of

electrons. Compared with electrons, however, the

mechanism of ionic conduction through oxide

ceramics is poorly understood, and delays the

development of more efficient and flexible fuel cells.

Two aspects comprise the research undertaken into

zirconia ceramics at Monash University. The first has

involved structural studies of the ceramics, chiefly

using electron microscopy and diffraction: the second

aspect is an attempt to connect the structure of the

ceramics with their ionic conduction performance.

More recently, this has included the deployment of

probe techniques such as Nuclear Magnetic

Resonance (NMR), Electron Spin Resonance (ESR)

and Positron Annihilation Lifetime Spectroscopy

(PALS).

2.1.2 Civil Engineering (http://www.eng.monash.edu.au/civil/about/people/pr

ofile/wgates)

2.1.2.1 SmecTech Research Consulting (http://www.smectech.com.au)

Dr W. P. Gates ([email protected])

2.1.2.3 Clay barrier performance against highly

saline leachates. ARC funded project, Monash University Department

of Civil Engineering

(http://www.eng.monash.edu.au/civil/research/centres

/geomechanics/) and School of Chemistry

(http://www.chem.monash.edu.au/green-chem/) to

develop bentonite-based materials with improved

hydraulic performance to highly saline leachates,

such as saline ground waters and industrial processing

leachates.

Dr. Frank Collins ([email protected])

(http://eng.monash.edu.au/civil/about/people/profile/f

collin;

http://www.eng.monash.edu.au/civil/research/centres/

structures/)

Fire Resistance of Concrete. The study

microstructure of concretes exposed to fires at

temperatures of up to 800oC made from either

ordinary Portland cement (OPC) or blends of OPC

and Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag has been

preformed. These studies were correlated with the

performance of concrete exposed to temperature and


used to predict the damage fire can cause to concrete

infrastructure.

2.1.2.4 Tensile Enhancement of Cements

Utilising Carbon Nanotubes OPC is brittle & prone

to cracking. Embellishment with carbon nanotubes

enhances tensile properties, creating. slender concrete

structures. This work has overcome one key

difficulty, the uniformity of carbon nanotubes

dispersion during mixing within OPC.

2.1.2.5 Chloride Ingress into Concretes Exposed

to Sea Water. An ARC grant with Will Gates,

(Monash) in collaboration with Laurie Aldridge &

Kapila Fernando (ANSTO) and Daniel Pickard

(National University of Singapore) has been awarded

to study this topic. The newly awarded grant is

entitled Cementitious Gel: The Missing Link in Understanding the Ageing of Built Infrastructure and a summary of the proposed grant follows.

Corrosive coastal exposure prematurely ages built

reinforced concrete infrastructure, causing unplanned

remediation and safety concerns. Traditional

durability forecasting models, based on convective

and ionic transport of chloride, overlook the influence

of the cement gel. The mechanisms of chloride and

water adsorption/binding/release to/from the gel will

be scrutinized by a number of advanced techniques,

including Helium Ion Microscopy, which will provide

the first visual characterization of the pore structure

of cement gel to 0.25 nm. Analytical modeling of

chloride/water/gel interaction will be integrated with

macro-transport predictive models and calibrated with

diffusion experiments: culminating in superior

durability forecasts.

Swinburne University of Technology

3.1 Faculty of Engineering and Industrial

Sciences Industrial Research Institute Swinburne (IRIS),

Hawthorn, VIC

Prof Christopher C. Berndt

([email protected])

Director, IRIS

(http://www.swinburne.edu.au/engineering/iris/staff/c

berndt.html)

The overarching theme of all IRIS activities relates to

the science of surfaces and interfaces, based on a

knowledge-intensive facility that is internationally

competitive in surface engineering. The innovation

lies in the creation of novel surfaces that can be

modified at an atomic level, with the objective of

developing new properties and hence new

functionalities for advanced applications.

University of Melbourne

4.1 Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering

(http://www.chemeng.unimelb.edu.au/ceramics/)

A/Prof. George Franks ([email protected])

http://www.chemeng.unimelb.edu.au/people/staff/fra

nks.html

4.1.1 Ceramic Powder Processing Shape forming

The research in our group uses the fundamental

understanding of the interactions between particles,

which can be controlled by polymers, ions and

surfactants, to develop novel methods of producing

complex shaped ceramic components. The most

significant of these innovations developed within

Australia include, a novel GelCasting process (Figure

7) and an aqueous based tape casting process. These

technologies enable reduced cost and improved

reliability manufacturing of advanced ceramic

materials. Current activities include the work of Dr.

Carolina Tallon and students Silvia Leo and Stephen

Tanurdjaja supported by the Australian Research

Council (http://www.arc.gov.au/) and Defence

Materials Technology Centre (DMTC)

(http://dmtc.com.au/). The DMTC sponsors our work

on Ultra High Temperature Ceramics for Hypersonic

rocket applications and Ceramic Protective Systems

for protection of our soldiers.

Fig. 7: Alumina pseudo rotors produced by

Gelcasting

4.1.2 Ceramic Particle Stabilised Foams

Ceramic particle stabilized foams produced by

gelcasting the green bodies have been developed. The

microstructure (such as the amount and average size

of porosity of alumina) of the ceramic foams is

influenced by the surfactant concentration and type

which is added to the ceramic suspension to cause the

Perera 54

particles to become hydrophobic so that they stabilise

air bubbles introduced by beating. It was found that

the microstructure transforms from a closed pore

(bubble) morphology, at low surfactant concentration

to opened pore (granular) morphology at high

surfactant concentration. The change in morphology

is related to the surface hydrophobicity and

aggregation of the particles which controls the

stability of the bubbles. The fired ceramic foams

contain between about 50 and 80% porosity with

average pore size ranging from about 100 to 400

microns depending on the formulation (Figure 8).

The use of polyvinyl alcohol and a temperature

activated crosslinking agent as a gelcasting system

minimized drying related cracking so that large and

complex shaped components may be fabricated. The

ceramic foams have compressive strength in the range

of about 15 to 40 MPa depending on the formulation.

Dr. Chayuda Chuanuwatanakul recently completed

her PhD on this topic.

Fig. 8: Alumina foams with approximately 80%

porosity, 100 to 300 micron diameter pores and 20

MPa compressive strength

4.1.3 Metal Oxide Surface Structure and

Charging

More than 10 years has been dedicated to

investigating the difference in charging behaviour of

alpha alumina powders and single crystals. The

difference is due to the different types of surface

hydroxyl groups on the two surfaces. Work in

collaboration with Prof Yang Gan (Harbin Institute of

Technology) has also produced some of the best high

resolution images ever published of the sapphire basal

plane in water and air (Figure 9). A few years ago we

were invited to submit a Feature Review article

published in the Journal of the American Ceramic

Society, in 2007. The recent PhD work of Nathan

Nicholas supported by the Australian Research

Council has focused on the Zinc Oxide surface. His

work details the role of small shape controlling

molecules (such as citrate) in the growth of ZnO by

hydrothermal processing at atmospheric pressure and

temperature below the boiling point of water.

4.1.4 Materials Modelling

Multi-scale modelling of material and component

behaviour ranging from the sub atomic to the

macroscopic scale is emerging as a useful tool in

improving understanding and prediction of material

performance in different applications particularly in

extreme environments. Three PhD students have

joined the group to help develop capability in

materials modelling. Catherine Sutton is using

Density Functional Theory to study molecular scale

interactions at the Zinc Oxide aqueous solution

interface. Mike Wang is using discrete particle

mechanics to investigate particle packing

microstructures and random walk modelling to

investigate composite material thermal properties.

Paul Mignone is applying Finite Element Analysis to

two phase and functionally graded materials to

predict component performance. These projects are

supported by the Australian Research Council and

Defence Materials Technology Centre.

Fig. 9: High resolution atomic force microscopy has been used to characterize the surface of alumina in aqueous

solutions.


4.2 Geopolymer and Minerals Processing

Group

(http://www.chemeng.unimelb.edu.au/people/staff/pr

ovis.html)

Dr John Provis ([email protected])

Geopolymers are a class of aluminosilicate materials

with potential applications as a cement replacement

for Greenhouse gas emission minimisation and niche

applications, and also as an advanced material for use

in fire-proof composites and refractories. Utilisation

of industrial wastes, particularly geothermal wastes,

fly ashes and mineralogical slags, is an area receiving

significant attention. University of Melbourne

research is focused on developing a more complete

understanding of the chemistry of geopolymerisation,

with a view towards optimising performance in

desired applications. We work closely together with

industrial partners in developing geopolymers as a

sustainable alternative to traditional construction

materials. University of Melbourne researchers are

international leaders in this research area, including

John Provis acting as the Secretary of RILEM TC

224-AAM, the peak international body working on

issues of standardisation and test method

development in the field of alternative cements.

University of Newcastle

5.1 Centre for Infrastructure Performance

and Reliability

(http://www.newcastle.edu.au/research-centre/cipar/)

Professor Mark G. Stewart

([email protected])

Principal research area is structural reliability analysis

of structural masonry. This includes calculation of the

probability of failure of masonry walls for use in

safety assessments and selection of design safety

factors for the Australian Masonry Code AS3700.

The reliability analysis includes the spatial variability

of material properties, and the variability of loads and

model error.

University of New South Wales

6.1 School of Materials Science &

Engineering (http://www.unsw.materials.unsw.edu.au)

Prof. Charles C. Sorrell ([email protected])

The principal area of research is in semiconducting

oxides for photocatalytic applications, including

photovoltaics, water decomposition, air and water

purification, and self-cleaning and self-sterilising

surfaces. The focus is on the effect of the

composition, microstructure, and related processing

parameters on the performance of thin and thick

films. The laboratories are fully equipped with

relevant facilities for the processing, characterisation,

and analyses of these materials.

Dr Runyu Yang ([email protected])

Dynamic modelling of sintering of ceramic powders

Sintering is an essential process in powder metallurgy

and ceramic manufacturing. There have been many

problems to implement the current sintering theories

into practice as many variables are involved. This

project focuses on the development of fundamental

understanding of sintering at the microscopic level

(particle-level), and linking microscopic phenomena

to macroscopic phenomena. By developing a dynamic

model of sintering based on discrete element method

(DEM), the micromechanical analysis of sintering at

different stages can be conducted and the effects of

key variables associated with powder properties and

process can be investigated. This model can be

applied to specific systems and to predict the

properties of sintered product based on the knowledge

of particle characteristics, material properties and

process conditions.

Dr. Owen Standard ([email protected])

Overall research processing-microstructure-property

relationship of advanced ceramics for functional

applications and include: colloidal processing of

electroceramics, compositional and microstructural

modification of bioactive and bioinert ceramics for

orthopaedic and dental applications, sol-gel

deposition of functional ceramic coatings for

electronic applications, development of functional

(sol-gel) coatings on textile fibres, and ceramic

coatings on biomedical alloys.

Prof. Sean Li ([email protected])

The ceramic research in our group, which currently

consists of 9 research fellows and 18 postgraduate

students, covers a wide range area from electronic

and photonic materials to super-hard bulk ceramics

and transparent armors etc. In the electronic and

photonic materials research, we are focusing on

ceramic based spintronic and thermoelectric materials

as well as multiferroic materials. In the structural

ceramic research, our interest is targeting at the

fabrication of large scale fully dense B4C and spinel

transparent armors. We are using unique instruments

for synthesis of large scale polycrystalline transparent

lasing materials and also Oxide Molecular Beam

Perera 56

Epitaxy system for the fabrication and interface

engineering of complex oxide heterostructures. The

laboratory is equipped with world-class instruments

with a total value of $8 million including 8 ARC

LIEF grants over the last 6 years and the research

projects are funded by ARC, ASI and Industries etc.

Dr. Nakaruk Auppatham

([email protected])

The critical research area involves the processing of

thin films of metal oxides (SnO2, In2O3, ZnO, CeO2,

WO3, MnO2, and TiO2). These thin films have the

potential to be used in solar energy conversion and in

environmental applications. The conventional thin

film fabrication methods include spin coating (figure

10), spray pyrolysis (figure 11), aerosol spraying, and

ultrasonic spray pyrolysis. For characterisation and

analyses of the properties of these films, sophisticated

analytical techniques such as glancing angle X-ray

diffraction, laser Raman microspectroscopy, laser

Raman photoluminescence, UV-VIS

spectrophotometry, photoluminescence, and photo-

bleaching of organic compounds are used. The focus

of the research is the optimisation of the

photocatalytic properties through the modification of

energy band and microstructural characteristics in

order to improve the performance.

Fig. 10: The image shows that the films, which were fabricated by spin coating, are highly transparent and

homogenous.

Fig. 11: The images shows the surface morphology and cross-section of anatase and anatase-rutile thin films, which

were fabricated by ultrasonic spray pyrolysis at 400C.


University of South Australia

IAN WARK RESEARCH INSTITUTE 7.1 ARC Special Research Centre for Particle

and Material Interfaces

Mawson Lakes Campus

Laureate Professor John Ralston, Director

([email protected])

Dr Terry Wilks, Institute Manager

([email protected])

The research areas of the Wark cover Colloids and

Nanostructures, Bio and Polymer Interfaces and

Mineral Processing. The Wark has played a key role

in the development of a new Bachelor of Science

(Advanced Materials) program that will be based at

UniSA's new $72 million M2 Building which opens at

the Mawson Lakes Campus early next year.

The program will allow first year students the chance

to continue with a broad range of core studies in

chemistry, physics, biology and mathematics before

specialising in the second and third years of their

degrees. Students will then be able to major in

minerals, nanomaterials, optical materials, water

technology, environmental remediation, energy

technology, biomaterials, chemistry and

pharmaceuticals and medical and health physics. The

program has been specifically designed for key

industry sectors in South Australia and nationwide

and will focus on educating quality graduates to work

in the priority areas of the minerals processing, water,

energy and health sectors.

University of Sydney

7.2 Faculty of Engineering

(http://www.aeromech.usyd.edu.au/biomedical/)

Assoc. Professor Andrew J. Ruys

([email protected])

7.2.1 Director of Biomedical Engineering

(Education)

The principal area of ceramics research in my

laboratory is biomaterials for medical devices. There

is a major focus on bioceramics. 1. Bioglass for use in

forming bioactive tissue scaffolds. We also use the

bioglass in making bioactive polymer-matrix medical

devices for tissue engineering, orthopaedic, and other

implantable medical device applications. 2. Alumina-

platinum composite materials for use in the Australia-

wide bionic eye project. 3. Hydroxyapatite coating is

a major focus, by electrochemical deposition and

thin-film vapor techniques. 4. Metal-ceramic

functionally graded materials with controlled linear

gradients mm to cm in breadth. For the last 12 years I

have been developing and optimizing the impeller-

dry-blending process for making functionally graded

materials as metal-ceramic blends and pore-graded

ceramics for metal infiltration.

School of Chemistry

(http://sydney.edu.au/science/chemistry/)

Prof. Brendan J. Kennedy

( [email protected])

Our work is concerned with the studies of structural

and electronic phase transitions in complex metal

oxides, especially perovskites and pyrochlores. This

involves the preparation, crystallographic and as

appropriate magnetic studies of materials.

University of Technology Sydney

8.1 Faculty of Engineering and Information

Technology

8.1.1 Centre for Built Infrastructure Research

(CBIR), a Key Centre of Research within the

University of Technology, Sydney.

Prof Abhi Ray

([email protected])

8.1.2 Cement Chemistry and Recycled Glass

Application

Cement Chemistry: a number of research projects are

underway to investigate methods to reduce CO2

emission in the manufacture of cement-based

construction materials. Incorporation of alumino-

silicate industrial waste which are pozzolanic in terms

of their reactivity is a major focus of the research

projects so that the vast amount of Portland Cement

used in traditional cement-based building products

can be replaced at least partially by the industrial

wastes. Other projects include the evaluation of

hybrid systems of admixtures and fibres for the

development of shrinkage resistant cement-based

materials and the development of green cement for

sustainable concrete using cement kiln dust.

Recycled Glass for applications in the manufacture of

Construction Materials: There has been a great

impetus worldwide towards the utilisation of glass

waste as a renewable construction material and the

topic has received considerable research interest. The

research investigates the potential of recycled glass as

a renewable resource material for the manufacture of

new generation building products in the Australian

context.

Perera 58

8.2 Faculty of Science Prof. Besim Ben-Nissan ([email protected])

Two projects currently undertaken and others

involved are listed under the projects.

[Dr. David W. Green ([email protected]);

Prof. Bruce Milthorpe

([email protected])]

Adult stem cell coatings using bioceramics for

regenerative medicine

Stem cells can become potent tools for the treatment

of degenerative disorders such as heart failure, eye

disease and osteoarthritis. Housing stem cells inside a

hydrogel coating, directly deposited around them

individually and in groups, may be an important

solution to the problem of increasing stem cell

viability and protection in cultivation. Such coatings

can target regulatory proteins and genes for

maintenance, differentiation and development into

tissues. Already a range of coatings are being applied

directly to protect insulin producing pancreatic islet

cells in the hope of treating type I diabetes. In this

pioneering work we emerging developments in adult

mesenchymal stem cell nanocoating and microcoating

techniques on a range of ceramic substrates and

assess their unique practical engineering, biological

and potential clinical advantages.

[Dr. Richard Roest

([email protected]);

Dr. Bruno Latella ([email protected]); Dr. Geg

Heness ([email protected])]

Sol gel derived ceramic nano films on anodised

titanium substrates

Sol-gel-derived ceramic coatings (Figure 12) have a

variety of uses, due to their ease of production and

ability to coat complex shapes. The sol-gels nanocrystalline grain structure results in improved

mechanical properties of the zirconia coating, which

further aids their use in a variety of applications from

thermal barrier coating to improved tribological

properties on titanium substrates. Stabilised zirconia

thin films were spin coated on anodised titanium

substrates. The titanium was anodised in a dilute

H3PO4/H2SO4 solution before spin coating with the

zirconia sol gel. These films were then studied using

secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS), to depth

profile the elemental species through to the titanium

substrate. In conjunction, scanning electron

microscopy (SEM) and X-ray mapping were used to

examine the craters formed by SIMS to gain an

understanding of the diffusion gradient existing with

the anodised titanium substrate and zirconia thin film.

Fig. 12: Micro tensile testing of Zirconia sol gel derived nanocoatings (70nm)


University of Western Sydney (http://www.uws.edu.au)

9.1 School of Natural Sciences

Prof Janusz Nowotny ([email protected])

Research Area. The research interest is on the

materials for energy conversion devices, such as

electrochemical devices, photoelectrochemical solar

cells and photocatalytic systems. The research is

focused on oxide semiconductors for the conversion

of solar energy into chemical energy. The research

aims to process high-performance photoelectrodes for

the production of solar hydrogen fuel and

photocatalysts for solar water purification. The

research includes the determination of material-

related properties, such as diffusion, charge transport,

segregation and the charge transfer at gas/solis and

liquid/solid interfaces.

GOVERNMENT-FUNDED RESEARCH

INSTITUTES

10.1 Australian Nuclear Science and

Technology Organisation (ANSTO)

(www.ansto.gov.au)

synrocANSTO (http://www.synrocansto.com)

Sam Moricca ([email protected])

ANSTO has more than 30 years experience in the development of synroc-type ceramic and glass-

ceramic waste forms and associated process

technologies for the immobilisation and safe disposal

of high- and intermediate-level nuclear wastes

(Figure 13). The synroc Team at ANSTO has utilised

this knowledge and experience to develop innovative

synroc waste forms tailored for specific nuclear waste

streams, including some which have no current

disposal route. By tailoring the waste form chemistry

and utilising innovative processing technology, whilst

still maintaining the long-term durability of the waste

form, significant reductions in waste volumes can be

achieved; resulting in potential disposal cost savings

of billions of dollars to international nuclear waste

clean-up programs. A current ANSTO project is

dealing with immobilisation of intermediate-level

waste from ANSTOs production of 99Mo radiopharmaceutical production.

10.2 Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial

Research Organisation (CSIRO)

CSIRO Future Manufacturing Flagship

Geopolymer R&D Group

Dr Kwesi Sagoe-Crentsil

([email protected])

The CSIRO Future Manufacturing Flagship

Geopolymer R&D Group has developed extensive

expertise and IP position within the Inorganic

Polymer/Geopolymer technology domain over the

past decade. The specific fields of activity relate to

Geopolymer binder applications covering building

products manufacture and mining applications. The

group has partnered several Australian SMEs and multi-nationals geopolymer R&D activities. The team

continues to provide both strategic and consulting

R&D services to industry leveraging its track record

of feedstock material processing, field testing and

monitoring through to product durability and tests for

code and standards compliance.

The groups strategic work on Geopolymer systems builds on existing capabilities in the chemistry of

cements and mix design of cementitious binders.

Current R&D activities on Geopolymer binder

synthesis cover: i) feedstock selection, beneficiation

and reactivity ii) the role of key oxide components i.e.

Al203, SiO2, Na2O, H2O, iii) control of dissolution and

condensation reaction kinetics, and iv) optimization

of Geopolymer process parameters. Coupled with a

very strong process engineering capability, this

provides the group with a differentiated advantage

that enables science concepts to be realised through

the internal value chain into applied technology. The

latter is enhanced through the very strong linkages

that the Group has with innovative SMEs who are typically mid-tier OEMs who play a vital role in systems integration and applied engineering.

The group has capabilities and extensive facilities

covering all aspects of binder mix design, accelerated

and specialist test facilities that meet most Australian

Standards protocols as well as prototype scale

batching and mixing plant for manufacturing and

testing large scale building product elements. The

group has a long standing history of active

participation in several Australian Standards

committees.

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Fig. 13: Synroc-type ceramic

Fig. 14: The Single Source Chemical Vapour Deposition (SSCVD) method used to produce complex metal oxide

thin films.

10.2.1 Materials Science and Engineering

Process Science and Engineering Structural and

Electronic Ceramics

Robert ODonnell ([email protected])

Research activities are focused on: developing

ceramic membranes for controlled gas transport;

electronic ceramics for dielectric, thermoelectric and

solar cell applications; structural ceramics for impact

and wear resistant applications; and refractory

ceramics for thermal insulation.

The implementation of visco-plastic processing, tape

casting technologies and Spark Plasma Sintering

capabilities has driven the development of high

performance ceramic and ceramic composite

materials such as the ceramic/polymer composite

delivering an order of magnitude increase in dielectric

coefficient. Reduction of manufacturing costs and

pilot scale demonstration is also an expertise within

the Program.

10.2.2 Separation Processes and Materials

Matthew R. Hill ([email protected])

Inorganic synthesis of heterobimetallic carbamate

cluster complexes as precursors to solar cell

electrode or nanomagnet thin films

Common materials often take on special properties

when nanostructured into thin films. For example, a

material such as zinc oxide, often used in sunscreen,

becomes capable of application in solar cells or

microelectronics. Whilst much engineering work has

been done to further tune the properties of thin films

by changing the nanostructure, chemistry-based

approaches to change the elemental composition have

not been explored.

We have previously grown ZnxMg1-xO thin films for

band-gap engineering applications using a facile

technique known as Single Source Chemical Vapour

Deposition (SSCVD) (Figure 14), which does not rely

on complex equipment like most other techniques.

The further success of SSCVD depends on synthetic

inorganic chemistry and the ability to make new

precursor molecules.


The aim of this project is to synthesise

heterobimetallic carbamate cluster complexes and use

SSCVD to deposit new types of thin film

nanomaterials. Possible materials include ZnCdO

thin films which could be used for tuning the thin

film band gap for use in solar cells, or

Mg(Mn/Ni/Co)O thin films which could be

nanomagnets and be useful in spintronics. Characterisation of precursor molecules will involve

single crystal X-Ray Diffractometry, and thin film

analysis will employ scanning electron microscopy

(SEM) and Near-Edge X-Ray Absorption Fine

Structure (NEXAFS) at the Australian Synchrotron.

10.2.3 Periodic Mesoporous

Lix(Mn1/3Ni1/3Co1/3)O2 Spinel for Battery

Applications

In the push towards viable renewable energy

technology, improved means of energy storage are

crucial for offsetting the intermittent nature of sources

including wind, solar, and tidal power. This project

involves the preparation of monoclinic

Lix(Mn1/3Ni1/3Co1/3)O2 spinel phase that exhibits

periodic mesoporosity (Figure 15). The route

employed involves an adaptation and extension of the

two solvents synthetic methodology, and under optimised conditions leads to materials that display

surface areas of more than 180 m2g-1. Surface areas

for this material were previously limited to 24 m2g-1.

Fig. 15: An image of a mesoporous battery electrode

prepared in the CSIRO laboratories.

Materials such as this have application in high

charge-discharge rate electrochemical storage

devices.

10.2.4 Biophosphates and their Application to

Materials Discovery

Phosphates and their related salts are ubiquitous

within modern society, with strong demand in

particular from the agriculture and health sectors.

These applications, along with emerging uses in

electrochemistry have created a global shortage of

phosphates. Because of the many bonding modes of

the PO4 tetrahedron, most phosphates develop

complex intermixtures in biological settings, or

exhibit intricate polymorphism with metal salts.

These twin challenges of supply and purity mean that

efficient synthesis of pure materials and their ready

characterisation is an important and pressing goal.

The consequences of phase impurity and/or its lack of

detection can be severe. For example, the presence of

small impurities of calcium phosphates within

hydroxyapatite coated bone implants can create a

cytotoxic surface, severely limiting the ability of the

implant to graft successfully. The loss of calcium

phosphate from the bones is associated with

osteoporosis and its accumulation in joints can lead to

gout. Many of these polymorphs form at lower

temperatures and in small quantities, rendering a

sample that has small amounts of amorphous material

present.

Fig. 16: Synchrotron crystal structure of a novel

biophosphate discovered in our laboratories.

Our research utilises a suite of novel synthetic

approaches and alternative characterisation

techniques that deliver high purity samples, ready

detection of phase impurities even at low levels, and

more complete structural characterisation (Figure 16).

Dr. Paolo Falcaro ([email protected])

10.2.5 Control and Application of Sol-Gel

Derived Ceramics

The research area is related to the preparation of

functional coatings and nanoparticles via sol-gel

process. A strong background has been developed on

self-cleaning coatings, such as hydrophobic and

photocatalytic films, nano-porous ceramic coatings

(e.g. SiO2, TiO2, HfO2) and hybrid thin and thick

films. Lithographic protocols for the fabrication of

patterned materials using such coatings have been

developed. Functional coatings for biomolecular

grafting are studied as well (e.g. coatings for

microarrays). Part of the research is dedicated to the

investigation of ceramic and hybrid organic-inorganic

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nano and micro-particle properties for the preparation

of nanocomposites with specific mechanical features

(e.g. scratch resistant coatings), and for the

preparation of seeds for heterogeneous nucleation

purposes (e.g. metal organic frameworks nucleation).

The focus is the optimization of the material

properties to improve the performances through the

investigation of the chemical composition,

microstructure, nanoporosity and morphology. For

this reason, we have developed a new method based

on the design of the experiment (DOE) to identify the

relationships between the material processing and

material features. With this procedure the number of

experiments is minimized and the probability to

optimize ceramic and hybrid material is improved.

Dr Cara Doherty ([email protected])

10.2.6 Mesoporous Ceramics for

Electrochemical Storage and Thin Film

Applications

Research has focused on the synthesis and

characterisation of porous hierarchical ceramic

materials for energy storage applications and

inorganic-organic silica based materials to investigate

materials for adaptive and responsive applications.

Mesoporous LiFePO4 electrode materials for lithium

ion batteries have been prepared to investigate the

effects that high surface area and hierarchical

structures have on the power capability if the

electrodes. The periodic mesoporous organosilicas

have physical properties which can be carefully

controlled for specific applications including flexible,

optically clear monoliths (Figure 17) and

mechanically strong thin films. Full material

characterisation is undertaken including positron

annihilation lifetime spectroscopy (PALS) for the

accurate measurement of pore size (0.2 20 nm) and relative concentration.

Fig. 17: Optically clear organosilica monolith.

INDUSTRY

11.1 Austral Bricks

(www.australbricks.com.au)

738 780 Wallgrove Rd Horsley Park, NSW 2164

Cathy Inglis, Group Technical Research &

Engineering Manager

([email protected])

Originally established in 1908, Austral Bricks has

been operating as part of Brickworks Limited since

1945. Brickworks Limited is a publicly listed

company which was formed in 1934.

In 2003, Brickworks acquired Bristile Limited

making Austral Bricks Australias largest brick manufacturer producing over 1 Billion bricks per

annum. The manufacturing operations consist of

factories throughout Australia including New South

Wales, Queensland, Victoria, South Australia,

Tasmania and Western Australia.

All of Australias sites are continually upgraded and modernised to maintain production efficiency and to

produce modern, fashionable products for the housing

and commercial markets.

With the commissioning of a new brick factory at

Wollert, Victoria in 2007 Austral Bricks continue to

set the pace for quality, efficiency and high levels of

environmental performance. The introduction of

robotic brick handling equipment at plants around

Australia enables Austral Bricks to greatly reduce

manufacturing costs and enhance production

flexibility. In 2011 another brick factory was

commissioned on this same site, making it one of the

biggest brick operations in Australia with a

production capacity of 150 million bricks per year.

Water on this site is collected and recycled to provide

all the necessary water for manufacturing, eliminating

the use of town water. This new plant is another step

by Austral Bricks towards further reducing the

embodied energy of our clay products as it uses 40%

less energy than the plant it replaced.

Austral Bricks is constantly striving to improve its

energy utilisation by reinvesting in more efficient

technologies, efficient plants, redesigning existing

plants and processes and updating control systems.

Austral Bricks extensive range of products are

manufactured and tested to the highest quality. Each

batch of bricks is graded at various stages of the

manufacturing process and are tested in registered


laboratories to make sure they meet strict Australian

Standards.

Having to meet the changing demands of todays market, Brickworks Limited has acquired a number

of complementary companies to Austral Bricks which

fall under Brickworks Building Products. Companies

within the Brickworks Building Products division

include Austral Bricks, Austral Masonry, Austral

Precast, Bristile Roofing and Auswest Timber.

Austral Bricks continuous focus on quality and service, coupled with the determination to remain the

market leader in the Australian brick industry means

we are always working to make Austral Bricks a

better brick company, built on the manufacturing and

service traditions that have made the company what it

is today.

Austral Bricks is constantly developing new products

to meet the changing demands of the building and

construction market. Two new products, namely the

Boxer Lite brick and the Everyday Life Brick (Figure

18), have been recently released and provide the

following benefits:

20% less raw material is required per brick due to their lighter weight lessening our impact on

natural resources including clay and shale

stockpiles.

A 10% reduction in natural gas use and greenhouse gas emissions over comparable

standard bricks.

A 19% reduction in diesel fuel required to deliver bricks to customers due to increased

pack size resulting from the bricks lower weight.

Use of town water is eliminated through on-site stormwater capture for use in the manufacturing

process whilst excess process water is

subsequently re-cycled.

Fig. 18: Boxer Lite brick

Austral Bricks has developed a terracotta faade

system, Terraade (Figure 19). Large format clay

tiles are supported on a structural rail system to

provide a ventilated rainsceen facade. Terraade is

durable, colour fast, low maintenance and

environmentally friendly.

Fig. 19: terracotta faade system

Austral Bricks produce a full range of clay pavers and

the latest new product that has been developed is

large format ceramic pavers. These pavers are 300 x

300mm and 600 x 300 in size and come in a range of

colours (Figure 20).

Fig. 20: Ceramic pavers

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11.2 Austral Precast

(www.australbrick.com.au)

33-41 Cowpasture Road

Wetherill Park, NSW 2164

Austral Precast is Australias premier supplier of high quality and innovative customizable precast concrete

solutions (Figure 21). Operating from five plants

around Australia, using state of the art technology,

production techniques and systems.

Austral Precast delivers a diversified range of wall,

floor, column, and client specific precast solutions.

Austral Precast offers an industry leading installation

service either through Austral Precasts own team or through a number of Austral accredited installers.

Austral Precast offers a variety of finishes that can be

used separately or in combination.

Applied finishes are achieved through the application

of materials, such as tiles or bricks to the surface of

the concrete panel in various patterns to create a truly

distinctive look. Whether you want a traditional brick

veneer finish or a striking tiled pattern.

Austral Precast have recently developed a

prefabricated brick panel to provide a complete wall

solution with rapid construction times, no mess and

waste on site and improved cyclone, flood, fire and

acoustic performance.

Fig. 21: Precast concrete walls

11.3 Bristile Roof Tiles

(www.bristileroofing.com.au)

164 Viking Drive,

Wacol, QLD 4076

Bristile Roofing was established in 1929 when Sir Lance Brisbane opened his first terracotta products

factory in Perth. The division is now one of

Australia's largest manufacturers and expert installers

of quality terracotta, and concrete roof tiles.

Concrete tiles were first marketed in the late 1940s and roof tiles, whether concrete or terracotta, quickly

became the roofing material of choice due to their

durability, profile variation and selection of colours.

In 1974, Besser Roof Tiles (as the company was then

known) entered the Queensland market offering one

tile profile in eight colours. In those days maximum

output was 20,000 tiles per day. In time the company

expanded into New South Wales building factories in

Grafton and Sydney. The Pioneer group purchased

the company in 1989 and oversaw further

development over the next decade which included the

incorporation of the famous Victorian brand Nubrik

which had first made concrete tiles in 1972 under the

Whitelaw Roof Tiles brand. Today, these various roof

tile companies, which first started serving the

Australian market over 75 years ago, have combined.

Now known as Bristile Roofing, we are one of the

countrys largest suppliers of concrete and terracotta roof tile, producing up to 250,000 units per day from

three plants and offering a comprehensive range of

more than 40 colours and seven profiles. Bristile

Roofing is part of the national Brickworks group of

companies.


11.4 Ceramic Oxide Fabricators (Australia)

Pty. Ltd. (www.cof.com.au)

83 Wood Street, Eaglehawk, Victoria 3556

Alan Walker, Manager, ([email protected])

C.O.F. manufactures advanced alumina, zirconia and

other ceramics by extrusion, injection moulding,

casting, welding and machining (Figure 22). Our

ceramic extrusion capability is amongst the best in

the world. We supply several of the worlds highest ranked universities, process control equipment

manufacturers in Europe, India, China, Japan and the

U.S.A. and the largest industrial, university and

CSIRO laboratories in Australia. Our ceramic

components are chosen for their outstanding for

abrasion, corrosion, and electrical resistance. We are

a second tier supplier to almost all the large

automotive companies.

The SIRO2 oxygen sensor we manufacture is the

standard method for furnace control in the heat-

treating industry all over the world.

Fig. 22: Ceramic oxide components

11.5 Empire Ceramics Pty Ltd.

(www.empirebrick.com.au)

PO Box 4338, Bunderberg South, QLD 4670

Pat Slee, Managing Director

([email protected])

Specialist brick cutters, who manufacture a

lightweight brick veneering system (Figure 23). It is

primarily exported to Japan as it is earthquake &

cyclone resistant. The company has been doing this

since 1986.

Fig. 23: Lightweight bricks

11.6 Morgan Technical Ceramics Australia Pty

Ltd (http://www.mtcmelbourne.com)

4 Redwood Drive, Notting Hill

Melbourne, VIC.

Steve Thompson, General Manager

([email protected])

Stuart Pratt, Sales and Marketing Manager

([email protected] )

Martin Stuart, Research and Development Manager

([email protected])

Morgan Technical Ceramics, Australia Pty Ltd, based

in Melbourne, is a wholly owned subsidiary of The

Morgan Crucible Company plc. The manufacturing

site produces zirconia components for a large range

of severe service industrial applications (Figure 24).

Most products go into applications demanding high

resistance to corrosion and wear, such as valve trim

for the chemical and food industry, guides and dies

for metals processing, bearings for materials transport

and components for automotive applications.

Nilcra Magnesia-Partially Stabilised Zirconia, or simply Nilcra PSZ, has the greatest toughest, or resistance to cracking, of all available ceramic

materials. This unique property, derived from

optimization of a process known as transformation toughening, makes it particularly suited to

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Fig. 24: Various components (left) and Metal forming tooling (right)

applications demanding high levels of mechanical

reliability. Typical products are, Valve & Pump

Components including complete butterfly valve

assemblies (Z-Max Valves), Can Tooling (ProSeamers), Battery Tooling, Shell Bearings (Z-Bearings) and Metal Forming Components.

Internal R&D activity at Morgan Technical Ceramics,

Australia is focused on process, product and

applications development.

11.7 Morgan Thermal Ceramics

(A division of Morganite Australia Pty Ltd)

(www.morgarnthermalceramics.com)

10-14 Toogood Avenue

Beverley, South Australia

Gary Latter National Sales Manager ([email protected])

Gerald Ng Business Development Manager ([email protected]

Fiona Leyonhjelm Customer Services Manager ([email protected])

Morgan Thermal Ceramics designs, manufactures and

installs a broad range of thermal insulation products

that significantly reduce energy consumption and

emissions in a variety of high temperature processing

applications.

Our manufacturing plant is based in Beverley South

Australia produces our patented Superwool high

temperature fibre insulation, Vermiclulite Boards, and

a range of customised insulation components.

Globally, Thermal Ceramics manufactures an

extensive range of insulating refractorory products

including: Insulating Firebricks, Dense and Insulating

Monolithics, Microporous Insulation, Fired Alumina

Shapes and High Temperature Textiles. By nature of

our wide product range, we service a diverse

industrial sectors from the Primany Aluminium and

Steel Industry to Marine Fire-Protection, and

Domestic Equipment Insulation.

11.8 Rojan Advanced Ceramics Ltd.

(http://www.rojan.com.au)

55 Alacrity Place

Henderson, WA 6166

Rod Stead, Managing Director

([email protected])

Established in 1991, Western Australian company

Rojan Advanced Ceramics Pty Ltd ("Rojan"), started

producing brick extrusion cores and simple crucible

shapes. It has now rapidly expanded into more

demanding applications with 30 staff in Sales,

Production, Engineering/ Product Development,

Administration/Finance supplying industrial ceramics

world wide. Its product range manufactured include

Alumina, aluminium titanate, magnesia, yttria

stabilised zirconia, spinel, mullite and forsterite

materials.

A history of cooperative research projects with

government organisations, universities and private

industry, together with continuous technology

development and internal research into new materials,

has transformed Rojan into arguably the most

technologically advanced ceramics company in the

Southern hemisphere. It exports to over 20 countries.

After nearly 20 years as a private company, Rojan

Advanced Ceramics was purchased by the Ludowici

Group of Companies in December 2010.

11.9 Taylor Ceramic Engineering

(www.taylorceramicengineering.com)

65 Anderson Road

Mortdale

NSW 2223

Alyssa Taylor , Managing Director


([email protected])

[email protected]

They are specialists in 99.9% HIGH purity

Alumina technology for over 40 years. Their unique

Net-Forming technique yields accurate & complex-geometry components

Applications: Wear & Chemical Resistance,

Electrical Insulation.

Components: Chute Liners, Guides, Brick Core Tips,

Bearings, Nozzles, Pumps, Spigots, Crucibles, Knife

Edge Blades, Insulators, Prototypes, Custom-made

etc. (Figure 25)

Component size: Minute to Monolithic.

Services: Taylor-made Solutions, Manufacturing,

Design, Consultancy, Worldwide Export.

11.20 Zeobond Group, VI (: www.zeobond.com)

PO BOX 210,

Somerton, VIC 3062

Prof Jannie S.J. van Deventer ([email protected])

Chief Executive Officer

Products made by Zeobond Group are Zeostone -

Low CO2 Precast Pavers; E-Crete, is Zeobonds proprietary geopolymer concrete product consisting

of fly ash, the by-product of burning coal at a

powerstation, and slag; Zeostone Pavers, which use

award winning CO2 reducing technology to offer a

sustainable choice unparalleled in the Australian

concrete paver market.

Zeobond is working with leading engineering

consulting firm Halcrow Pacific, polymer fibre

manufacturer Elasto Plastic Concrete and pre-cast

concrete products manufacturer Humes to

manufacture fibre reinforced concrete tunnel lining

segments. Tunnel lining segments are used in

applications like outflow pipes for desalination plants

and subway systems.

Zeobond is supporting fundamental scientific

research and training at the University of Melbourne

to investigate the long term durability of geopolymer

concrete. This work follows on from investigations of

old geopolymer structures in the former Soviet Union

which were investigated by CEO of Zeobond, Jannie

van Deventer in 2006.

Fire Resistance of E-Crete has been tested according to the Standard Time-Temperature Curve

(STTC) heating profile, which is the heating profile

specified in the ISO834 Standard. This test has shown

E-Crete to perform considerably better than OPC based concrete at high temperatures.

Fig. 25: High purity alumina components

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Consultants

Dr. Laurie Aldridge, ([email protected])

12.1 24 Balmer Crescent

Woonona, NSW 2517

Monitoring Applications of Durability

Worldwide billions of dollars are spent annually to

replace defective infrastructure that needs

replacement only because of concrete failing to attain

its expected service life. In addition costly

maintenance is another outcome in the lack of

durability of concrete. For example in 1979 a survey

of large (greater than three story) residential buildings

erected in the previous 15 years in North Sydney

found that; 69% of the buildings showed some

incidence of durability distress, the younger buildings

shown increase frequency of distress than those 10 -

15 years old. Good quality concrete is durable and

service lives of over a hundred years can be achieved

with: (1) dequate mixing, (2) Proper composition

(with special emphasis both on amount of water and

the addition of supplementary cementitious materials

to blends with pulverized fuel ash (PFA), ground

granulated blast furnace slag GGBFS, or silica fume),

(3) Proper curing, (4) Proper compaction, and (5)

Adequate cover. Yet there exist little in situ testing protocols to cheaply determine if placed concrete is in

fact properly cured, properly compacted, with defined

composition, and the adequate cover specified. Many

specifications are in fact prescriptive based on

experience and the development of performance

specifications is of some importance with the recent

need to develop cementitious binders that required

less carbon dioxide emission during production.

This project was set up with private money to develop

and evaluate the monitoring of performance of

cementitious binders with the aim of predicting

durability from the performance of the concrete by

in-situ testing. Collaborative work is being carried out with the Niels Bohr Institute Copenhagen

Denmark, Frank Collins & Will Gates Department of

Civil Engineering, Monash University, Kapila

Fernando ANSTO, Kirk Vessalas & Paul Thomas

UTS. This work has led to a number of publications

on water movement and chloride ingress through

cementitious binders and concretes. Continuing work

aims to use our data to estimate service life of

concrete used as cover in built structures.

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