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SUMMARY OF
ACHIEVEMENTS 1999-2005
Some of
the achievements, outputs and outcomes of the CRC for Polymers,
during the six-year period of grant funding from 1999-2005, are
summarised below.
Click
here for a article published by the CRC Program Office.
Commercialisation
The following
participants licensed technologies developed in the CRC-P:
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VisyPak icensed the high melt
strength PET technology for use in Australia and New
Zealand, and is using it for enhancing the properties of
bottle grade PET by in-line reactive extrusion to
produce an improved grade used to make high impact
resistant thermoformed packaging trays.
-
Ciba licensed the
high melt strength PET technology to commercialise it in
other countries.
-
Olex
licensed the ceramifying polymer technology for
cable applications and this technology is used in a new
range of cables called Pyrolex™ Ceramifiable® launched
in July 2003. Cable insulation made from ceramifying
polymer compositions is converted into a ceramic
material when exposed to fire. The technology eliminates
the need to include a mineral filled glass tape in the
construction of the cable, thus simplifying the design
and production of fire performance cables. The cables
have achieved significant marketing success, being
specified for installation in many major commercial
developments.
-
Orica (the Engineering
Plastics business formally owned by Qenos and now part
of the Marplex business) licensed polymer modification
and formulation technologies to be used in the
production of cellular insulation and sheathing for
cable production.
-
SOLA licensed Centre technology used the production of a
new range of sun lenses commercialised in May 2005.
The Centre
created the following two spin-off companies:
-
Ceram Polymerik was established to commercialise the
ceramifying polymer technology in passive fire
performance applications (including seals, and
components in fixtures) other than cable products, and
raised venture capital funding of $1.55 million in
September 2004.
-
Advanced Polymerik, which is completing the
commercialisation of that Centre's intellectual property
portfolio.
Education
One of the Centre's most enduring legacies will be its
postgraduate students. The Centre has provided funding
support for sixteen students who have completed their degrees,
with eight finding employment in industry, four at positions
with universities, one at ANSTO, one at Monash and one pursuing
further studies.
Awards
The following awards and grants were received:
-
Olex and the CRC-P received a CRC Association
2004 Award for Excellence in Innovation for the
ceramifying technology from the Minister for Science,
The Honourable Peter McGauran, at the Association's
Annual Conference in June 2004.
-
The CRC-P received the 2004 Award for Best
Collaboration involving a CRC for the development
of ceramifying polymer technology at the Business/Higher
Education Round Table Awards for Outstanding Achievement
in Collaboration in Research & Development and Education
& Training held in November 2004.
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