Collaborations
Looking outward and forward is a key characteristic of the Centre’s approach and CMR has a history of highly successful collaborations and relationships with public and private sector organisations.
In addition to its successes in winning grants and research projects, CMR has earned Curtin University top-8 ranking for the Australian university members of the Australian Institute of Nuclear Science and Engineering (AINSE) due to its national prominence in neutron scattering science.
By invitation, CMR is also a core participant in the $16M MNRF award for 2002-2007, Australian Synchrotron Research Program. Various members of the group hold executive positions on boards or panels of state, national and international professional bodies such as AINSE, the Australian X-ray Analytical Association, Australian Society for Electron Microscopy, the International Center for Diffraction Data and the Bragg Institute.
One of only three Bragg Fellows to be appointed in Australia is within CMR and the appointment will ensure that research links with the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) are maintained and extended over the next 5 years. The Centre is also a key partner in the recently awarded WA Nanoscale Characterisation Centre of Excellence.
R & D collaborations with Australian industry form a significant part
of CMR’s activities; these partnerships are producing immediate successful
outcomes for industrial performance and leading to exciting developments
that have enormous potential to benefit society as a whole.
With natural resources crucial to the WA economy, CMR works with leading
companies across a diverse range of industries:
- Mining and processing – alumina, sircon and zirconium, iron ore and nickel.
- Exploration and development - oil and gas, minerals.
- Cement and concrete.
- Energy supply.
- Environmental protection and services.
The geopolymer project has substantial CRC support and is a collaborative venture with a number of groups including NRI, TAFE and industry. A major benefit of geopolymer production is the very low emission of CO2 compared with conventional Portland cement production. This aspect alone will ensure that this technology will have a significant impact on society in the future. CMR is undertaking several research projects, involving partners from industry, universities and government that aim to develop the necessary chemical and structural understanding of geopolymers made from industrial and mining waste products.
The Western Australian Corrosion Research Group (WACRG) within the CMR carries out work both nationally and internationally for the petroleum and mining industry to protect and preserve their assets from deterioration and failure due to corrosion. This also benefits the shareholders and the nation in export earnings by reducing production costs. The Group has also contributed to the development of new environmentally friendly corrosion inhibitors by producing a structural activity relationship for inhibitor molecules.
Currently, CMR collaborates with:
Australian Nuclear Science & Technology Organisation (ANSTO)
Alcoa Australia
National Institute of Standards & Technology
Australian Synchrotron Research Program
Doral Specialty Chemicals (formerly Millennium)
ISIS Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, UK
Bristol University, UK
Cambridge University, UK
University of Sydney
National Synchrotron Light Source, New York
Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO)
University of Queensland
University of Western Australia
AJ Parker CRC for Hydrometallurgy
Access to Major Research Facilities Program (DEST)
Australian Institute for Nuclear Science & Engineering (AINSE)
Centre for Fuels & Energy (Curtin)
International Energy Agency Hydrogen Program
John de Laeter Centre (Curtin)
Nanoscale Characterisation Centre (Centre of Excellence)
National Hydrogen Materials Alliance
Nanochemistry Research Institute (NRI)
Florida University, USA
Australian Synchrotron Project
University of Illinois, USA
GKSS, Germany
Advanced Photon Source,Chicago
ORNL, USA
