Converging Materials, Manufacturing and Sustainability

Lead researcher - Associate Professor Ing Kong

About - This project explores the development of soft, biocompatible materials, such as bioadhesives and hydrogels, for medical use in wound care, wearable sensors, and tissue repair.

Bioadhesives are designed to gently stick to skin or internal tissue, even in moist environments, making them ideal for surgical glues and health-monitoring patches. Hydrogels, which are water-rich and tissue-like, can adapt to body conditions and are useful in drug delivery, healing, and regenerative medicine.

Using 3D printing and other advanced methods, these materials can be tailored for specific medical needs, offering safer, less invasive, and more comfortable treatment options. The goal is to improve healing outcomes and patient care through smart, responsive materials.

Partner - MoreDent

Lead researcher – Associate Professor Ing Kong

About – This project focuses on developing a synthetic, biodegradable barrier membrane to reduce the need for invasive procedures in the treatment of gum disease. By leveraging advanced manufacturing techniques, the research aims to create a next-generation membrane that promotes tissue regeneration and enhances patient outcomes.

This initiative highlights the strength of industry-academic collaboration in translating materials science research into practical clinical solutions. By bridging the gap between laboratory innovation and real-world application, it contributes to advancing periodontal therapy and improving overall healthcare delivery.

Partner – MoreDent

Lead researcher – Associate Professor Ing Kong

About – Victoria’s ambitious resource recovery targets and the national ban on waste exports demand local recycling solutions instead of relying on landfill or overseas disposal. A large volume of thermoplastic waste is currently landfilled due to processing difficulties, contamination, mixed plastic types, and low market value.

This project supports the development of Rtec’s innovative plastic melting technology, which is now in late-stage prototype trials. The system offers a one-step, continuous process with low capital and operational costs. The research will focus on validating the process, testing product designs, and assessing the performance of demonstration products.

The outcomes will generate essential data to support end-market applications and help build a strong business case for commercialisation. This work aims to unlock new, cost-effective uses for hard-to-recycle post-consumer plastics and accelerate the development of circular economy products across a range of industries.

Partner – Ritchie Technology

Lead researchers – Associate Professor Ing Kong and Professor Brian Abbey

About - Alumina-zirconia composites are widely used in high-performance applications such as oxygen sensors, high-temperature fuel cells, thermal barrier coatings, and toughened ceramics. Their enhanced mechanical properties are largely due to reinforcement mechanisms like transformation toughening and microcracking. While early fabrication methods relied on wet chemical and co-precipitation techniques to produce well-dispersed powders, modern approaches typically use the more economical method of mixing and milling commercially available alumina and zirconia powders. The particle size and distribution within the mixture significantly influence the composite’s mechanical strength, density, and electrical and thermal properties.

This project focuses on understanding how particle size and distribution affect the mechanical and electrical behaviour of alumina-zirconia composites. It also aims to optimise processing parameters for composites produced via powder mixing methods. In addition, the project will examine the role of dopants such as graphene and carbon nanotubes in improving the final properties of the composites. The outcomes of this research will support the development of advanced ceramic materials for demanding technological applications.

Partner – Ceramic Oxide Fabricators

Lead researchers – Dr Elsuida Kondo,  Associate Professor Toong-khuan Chan

About -The project aims are to assess decarbonisation solutions, determine realistic and practical solutions, and document these lessons learned for wider dissemination to Victoria’s infrastructure delivery programs and industry.

As such, the scope will include a review of decarbonisation initiatives by Australian construction companies, analyses of energy use, productivity, performance and ease of implementation of selected sustainable fuel equipment, assessment of carbon abatement from alternative power sources, and to identify challenges. The goal is to provide realistic and practical decarbonisation solutions.

Partner – ACCIONA

Lead Researcher - Associate Professor Ing Kong and Dr Avinash Baji

About - Air contamination and unwanted bubbles cause billions in losses annually across industries, leading to inefficiencies, increased costs, and safety risks. From drug delivery failures in healthcare causing air embolisms and neonatal complications to energy-intensive nitrogen purging in wine bottling, the need for a scalable, cost-effective solution is clear.

This project advances transformative technologies that remove air and prevent bubbles to commercially ready solutions, enabling new products like an air-free syringe preventing tap-and-squirt, a novel blood diagnosis device and air-free pump filling device. These technologies will solve bubble problems across Australian health and industry by cutting waste, emissions and enhancing safety.

Partner - Haemograph

Lead Researchers - Dr Avinash Baji and Associate Professor Ing Kong

About - Upcycling plastic and textile waste into valuable products addresses critical global challenges such as waste management, public health, and resource conservation. This project will develop two innovative solutions:

1. Antibacterial Hydrophobic Films – Produced from recycled PET and milk bottles for applications in food packaging and healthcare. These films aim to minimize microbial contamination, extend food shelf life, and reduce chemical sanitisation needs in medical environments (e.g., tray table surfaces).
2. Insulation Pads – Manufactured from recycled textiles for effective thermal and acoustic insulation in housing. The inclusion of recycled textile layers enhances heat and sound absorption.

Both solutions will reduce landfill waste, promote sustainability, and strengthen the circular economy by transforming waste into high-value products.

Partner - Goldrec

Lead researcher – Associate Professor Vipul Patel

About – This research advances the design of concrete-filled steel tube systems, modular construction technologies, high-performance concrete, and sustainable construction. The aim is to address the growing demands of modern infrastructure through efficient, durable, and adaptable structural solutions.

This work explores the integration of advanced structural mechanics with sustainable material design to optimize performance across residential, commercial, and industrial sectors. Research projects focus on improving load-bearing capacity, fire resistance, and long-term durability of steel-concrete composite systems. The aim is to reduce environmental impacts through low-carbon concrete, recycled materials, and smart construction practice.

The team develops modular construction systems that streamline fabrication, improve onsite efficiency, and reduce construction waste. These approaches contribute directly to more sustainable building practices and align with national and international goals for emissions reduction, circular construction, and infrastructure resilience.

The vision driving this research is a commitment to redefining how structures are built and sustained in the face of climate and societal challenges. This work contributes to shaping a safer, smarter, and more adaptive built environment for future generations.

Lead researcher – Dr Avinash Baji

About – This project aims to develop the next-generation advanced filters and face masks that will eradicate bacterial contaminants in the air. These innovative filters provide a non-toxic and sustainable solution to bacterial contamination by employing bio-inspired mechano-bactericidal mechanisms. Similar to some naturally occurring antimicrobial materials, these materials will physically destroy bacteria and viruses without relying on the use of harmful biocides or bioactive agents.

The use of bio-inspired design will enhance the antibacterial performance of the materials and will improve their effectiveness in environments prone to contamination, such as hospital settings, and elderly care facilities. This innovative approach aligns with the urgent need for robust, efficient, and safe solutions in healthcare settings, offering a practical alternative to traditional antibacterial methods. The successful implementation of these filters will help reduce the spread of harmful bacteria, ensuring cleaner air.

Lead Researcher - Dr Avinash Baji

About - Although natural composites are made of relatively weak constituents, the hierarchical arrangement and design of the constituent materials give rise to superior stiffness, strength and toughness. For example, bone and nacre are interesting natural materials with high load-bearing capacity. These materials display an optimal combination of mechanical properties as they can deflect cracks and absorb high energy before catastrophic failure. The remarkable properties of these natural materials are attributed to the hierarchical design of the basic building blocks.  Mimicking the structure and design principles of natural composites found in connective tissues, bones, and exoskeletons can provide exciting opportunities for designing strong and durable synthetic composites.

This project focuses on designing and fabricating biomimetic helicoidal fibre-reinforced polymer composites inspired by natural structures. Using advanced fabrication techniques like near-field electrospinning (NFES), the project aims to systematically investigate and uncover the microstructure and mechanical property relationships of these unique bio-inspired composites. This will facilitate a new design strategy to develop a new generation of composite materials.