A new flagship research centre, to be located in a new Advanced Engineering Building currently under construction at the University of Queensland, will provide Queensland manufacturers with unprecedented access to expertise, facilities and capabilities in all areas of materials technology and the manufacturing processes needed to turn these materials into products.
The Advanced Materials Processing and Manufacturing Centre (AMPAM) is a collaboration between the materials engineering centres at the University of Queensland including:
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Design in Light Metals
- CRC for Polymers
- CRC for Advanced Composite Structures
- CAST CRC
- Defence Materials Technology Centre
- QMI Solutions
AMPAM will conduct and co-ordinate research that drives innovation in Queensland’s manufacturing industries and improves their competitiveness. It will work with industry to develop innovative products that generate new business and to improve product quality and reduce manufacturing costs through process improvements.
Currently, materials R&D is often limited to one materials family only, but companies require new solutions that may cross materials boundaries, or need to combine different materials to meet specific functional requirements. Emerging applications will require new materials solutions that fall across the traditionally discrete disciplines concerned with light and ferrous metals, polymers and composites. This Centre will develop materials solutions and applications with industry that will generate new manufacturing opportunities eg:
- ballistic materials that combine metallic and composite elements
- lifecycle performance of titanium-composite joints for aerospace applications
- polymeric coatings on metallic stents for drug-delivery
- composite parts used to reinforce existing components and provide sensory data
These material combinations require advanced analysis, engineering and manufacturing techniques to ensure that they can be economically produced and that they will perform the appropriate task.
AMPAM is supported by the Queensland State Government’s Innovation Building Fund that is facilitating the eventual co-location of the participating centres in the new Advanced Engineering Building.
Ahead of the completion of the new building, the “virtual centre” is fully open for business on projects and developments such as joining, coating, materials development and the development of multi-materials manufacturing processes that will benefit Queensland manufacturers.
Areas of research focus are:
Manufacturing Process Technologies
Rapid prototyping, rapid manufacturing process technologies, freeform manufacturing, multi-material manufacturing processes – cutting, shaping, machining, corrosion protection, surface engineering, joining of dissimilar materials, bonding and adhesive development.
Design, Analysis & Modelling
Design, analysis and modelling of multi-layered materials, multi-material components, materials with phased properties, materials with tailored properties.
Novel and Advanced Materials
Materials for extreme environments such as energy efficient power generation e.g. new clean coal power plants, new generation nuclear plants, hypersonic and new generation engines, solar, geothermal and other sustainable energy systems. Intelligent materials incorporating sensors. Light alloys for medical applications (e.g. Ti, Mg).
Sustainable Manufacturing
Manufacturing economics, life cycle analysis, sustainable design methodologies, design for disassembly and recycling, green technologies, waste minimisation, recycling and sustainability issues for multi-material components.
To assist Queensland companies to improve their global competitiveness, the management of the Centre will be specifically receptive to researching new ideas and product concepts emerging from industry. The researchers will work closely with industry to determine the pathway for turning ideas into actual products, overcoming barriers to adoption and bringing products to a market ready state.
To discuss your ideas and the research activities that could support your business, please contact either:
Professor David St John
AMPAM Director
(07) 3365 3641
Dr Sara Eastwood
UQ Liaison
(07) 3364 0764
To give Queensland industry early awareness and access to the expertise and facilities available through AMPAM, QMI Solutions are showcasing the work of key AMPAM research staff in a workshop at Eight Mile Plains on 11 May. To register for this event go to: http://www.qmisolutions.com.au/Events.aspx