Purpose of the Centre

The Centre for High Performance Polymers undertakes research and development into the design, synthesis, characterisation, rheology, processing and flow simulation of biopolymers and polymer nanocomposites. The Centre for High Performance Polymers is a university-wide overreaching centre that includes research groups from Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Materials Engineering, Dentistry, Anatomy and Pharmacy. There are currently 40 postgraduate students, 10 senior research and postdoctoral fellows, and 10 academic staff who work in this centre undertaking projects in a variety of areas.  For a complete list of Centre personnel click here.

The Centre for High Performance Polymers presently houses over $5,000,000 worth of characterisation, rheology, processing, simulation and visualisation equipment used for basic and applied research and development projects.

The Centre for High Performance Polymers provides the following benefits to the University:

• an interdisciplinary research focus into new polymer systems

• placement of key strategic fellows in emerging research areas

• greater external and internal exposure

• a vehicle for commercialisation of polymer research project by linking polymer chemists, engineers and practioners

• a vehicle for the development and marketing of polymer research as a key university strength both nationally and internationally

• strong involvement in AIBN

• strengthen further national and international involvement in key research centres such as CRCs and international consortia

Operational Objectives of the Centre

1. That the Centre for High Performance Polymers pursues excellence in research and development in the field of fundamental polymer science and engineering, with particular emphasis on the drivers of application in polymer nanocomposites, biopolymers and high value manufacturing polymers.

2. That the Centre for High Performance Polymers be a major catalyst for cross-disciplinary research and development with UQ, and in particular play a strong role in the proposed Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (AIBN).

3. That the Centre for High Performance Polymers establish within the structure of the AIBN collaborative research programs with polymer practitioners in the Schools of Dentistry, Medicine and Pharmacy, and the Department of Anatomical Science.

4. That the Centre for High Performance Polymers educate postgraduate students and industrial partners in the fundamental sciences that underpin the polymeric development of new products and technologies.

5. That the Centre for High Performance Polymers assist in the commercialisation of new products and technologies for the national and international markets through effective consultancies and interactions.

6. That the Centre for High Performance Polymers promote greater external interaction with the University of Queensland through continuing collaborative arrangements and participation in the professional bodies representing polymer scientists and engineers within Australia.

    

Academic Staff

Academic Staff-Research Only

Adjunct Staff

Professional Researchers

Postgraduate Students

Introduction to the CHPP labs

Safety inductions

Everyone who works at UQ is required to complete the UQ online safety induction available here

Those intending to work in the Chemical Engineering labs need to attend a building induction with the building manager (contact facilities@eait.uq.edu.au)

Those intending to work in the AIBN labs (our facilities are located on level 4 East) need to need to contact Maria Somodevilla Torres who is in charge of AIBN lab inductions.

In addition you will need to have a basic introduction to the special features and hazards in our labs from the appropriate person in charge (see below).

Equipment training, booking and use

Links to all our equipment is currently on the CHPP group file share (G:/chpp), available to those based in the EAIT faculty. This site contains a list of those responsible for the various pieces of equipment, together with Standard Operating procedures and outline Risk Assessments. Key contacts, if you are unable to access the more detailed information on this server, are:

• Characterisation equipment (room 222) Timothy Nicholson

• Processing equipment (room 122) Greg Cash

• AIBN based equipment: Peter Halley

Before using a particular piece of equipment you need to contact the person in charge who will take you through the Standard Operating procedure for the equipment and also as necessary arrange or provide hands on training. Once they are satisfied that you are competent to use the equipment you will become an authorised user and be able to book the equipment.

Bookings are made via the web at keller.cheque.uq.edu.au/bookings. You will only be able to book equipment that you have been authorised to use, and only up to one week in advance. You will be supplied with login details once you become an authorised user of our equipment. Any queries about the booking system should be addressed to Timothy Nicholson. If you need special features or resources (e.g. Liquid Nitrogen ordering) make sure you contact the equipment manager in advance.

Prior to your experiment you need to conduct a Risk Assessment (RA) and show it to the responsible person. At UQ these are now conducted online via the OHS website. To help you do this, refer to the outline RAs on our server. You might also need to refer to the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) of any chemicals and materials you will be using (use Chemwatch, also available from the OHS website).

Many pieces of equipment have a log book. This helps check for maintenance issues and can also suggest appropriate parameters for other users. Please fill in these books.

Core Skills

The research in the Centre for High Performance Polymers draws on the following core skill areas that have been developed by Centre for High Performance Polymers staff over the past 15 years;

• Polymer synthesis, polymerization and polymer analysis

• Polymer characterization, rheology, polymer processing and simulation

• Polymer material properties and performance

Research Programs

The research program will focus in three areas

• High-value manufacturing

• Biopolymers

• Polymer nanocomposites

These areas correlate with current international trends in polymers, current national trends in bio- and nanotechnology and align with programs already undertaken individually by members of the Centre for High Performance Polymers.

Detailed information about successful grants awarded to the staff of the Centre for High Performance Polymers is outlined below. Over $900,000 worth of grants were utilised in 2002 between Centre for High Performance Polymers partners.  It is envisaged that this level of funding will increase through the next three years

The characterisation and processing group will meet about every second week on Fridays at 12noon in room 206 in the Chemical Engineering Building (74).

The Polymer Chemistry Group meets at 11am on  Mondays in the AIBN Level 4 Seminar Room.

Click here to see the timetable for these seminars