Plantic Technologies Limited

Polymers Crc Limited

Rmit University

Olex Australia Pty Ltd

Ceram Polymorik Pty Limited

Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology

Robert Shanks

Antonietta Genovese

Graeme Moad

Kishan Khemani

Guoxin Li

Yi-Bing Cheng

Pulahinge Don Dayananda Rodrigo

Lance Nichols

Wasantha Gunaratne

Jana Habsuda

George Simon

Edmond Lascaris

Graeme Alexander

Jaleh Mansouri

Kenneth Willis Barber

Robert Paul Burford

Christopher Wood

Alma Hodzic

Christopher Preston

Vanja Pasanovic-Zujo

Kevin William Thomson

Susan Wan Yi Wong

Helmut Hugel

Michael Czajka

Kishan C Khemani

In one aspect, the invention provides a substantially exfoliated nanocomposite material including starch and hydrophobically modified layered silicate clay. In another aspect, the invention provides packaging made from material including the substantially exfoliated nanocomposite material described above. The nanocomposite material has improved mechanical and rheological properties and reduced sensitivity to moisture in that the rates of moisture update and/or loss are reduced. In another aspect, the invention provides a process for preparing the substantially exfoliated nanocomposite material described above, including a step of mixing the starch in the form of an aqueous gel with the hydrophobic clay in a melt mixing device. In a further aspect, the invention provides a process for preparing the substantially exfoliated nanocomposite material, including the steps of mixing the starch with the hydrophobic clay to form a masterbatch (hereinafter 'the masterbatch process') and mixing the masterbatch with further starch.

Starch nanocomposite materials

A process for the preparation of reduced graphene comprising the steps of: providing an expandable graphite intercalated with oxygen containing groups; heating the expandable graphite under conditions sufficient to cause expansion of the expandable graphite and formation of an expanded graphite comprising oxygen containing groups; and contacting the expanded graphite with carbon monoxide to reduce at least a portion of the oxygen containing groups and form a reduced expanded graphite comprising an array of reduced graphene. The process of the invention enables large volumes of high quality graphene to be produced.

Graphene production process

The invention provides a cellular polyurethane foam composition for forming a cellular ceramic under fire conditions, the composition comprising: at least 40% by weight based on the total weight of the composition of a polyurethane; from 10% to 40% by weight based on the total weight of the composition of silicate mineral filler; from 5% to 20% by weight based on the total weight of the composition of at least one inorganic phosphate that forms a liquid phase at a temperature of no more than 800&#xb0; C.; from 0.1% to 10% by weight based on the total weight of the composition of a heat expandable solid material; and wherein the total proportion of inorganic components constitutes in the range of from 20% to 60% by weight of the total composition.

Polymer foam and foam articles for fire protection

The invention relates to a ceramifying composition for forming a fire resistant ceramic under fire conditions the composition comprising: (i) at least 10% by weight of mineral silicate; (ii) from 8% to 40% by weight of at least one inorganic phosphate that forms a liquid phase at a temperature of no more than 800&#xb0; C.; and (iii) at least 15% by weight based on the total weight of the composition of a polymer base composition comprising at least 50% by weight of an organic polymer.

Ceramifying composition for fire protection

A fire resistant composition comprising: a silicone polymer; mica in an amount of from 5% to 30% by weight based on the total weight of the composition; and a limited amount of glass additive sufficient to enable the formation of a self supporting ceramic material at temperatures above the decomposition temperature of the silicone polymer and below the fire rating temperature of the composition. The glass additive addition required to produce the self supporting ceramic material has been found to be preferably from 0.3% to 8% by weight based on the total weight of the composition. The composition is applicable to products formed for fire wall linings, fire partitions, screens, ceilings or linings, structural fire protection, fire door inserts, window or door seals, intumescent seals, in electrical switchboard cabinets or cables. In one cable application, the composition may be used as the extruded intermediate material () between the conductor () and extruded sheath ().

Fire-resistant silicone polymer compositions

Growing community of inventors

Glen Iris, Australia

Robert Shanks