	Vision and Mission. A company's vision and mission is the driving force behind what they do. So what drives Future Materials? ---more
	Future Materials Capabilities Database. Including details of expertise, research facilities and equipment the Capability Database is a great tool for matching industry need with university supply ---more

Future Materials Weblog

FM Awards 2006
Congratulations to the finalists and winners ---more

Case Histories

Extensive case history file.
The following represents a small selection of the way in which the resources of Future Materials have been utilised ---more

Partners and Sponsors

Supporters and Sponsors
Sponsored by AusIndustry, Future Materials brings together the resources of Australia's foremost materials technology research institutions---more

Corporate Sponsors

Future Materials News


	Perspective of a Young Australian Materials Researcher: Opportunities and Challenges It is an exciting time for young materials researchers. Advances in materials technology will play a key role in addressing a number of the world’s most pressing problems: energy supply and storage, reductions in pollution levels, water purification, new methods for treating disease and illness, national defense, etc ---more

Research News
	Using ultrafast lasers for materials conservation Laser physicists at The Australian National University (ANU) are investigating what’s possible in terms of cleaning precious materials when you apply ultrashort laser pulses – pulses measured in pico- and femtoseconds. Preliminary results suggest they’re onto a winner. ---more

Tin Tacks
	Novel approach to bridge strengthening An innovative aeronautical engineering technique has been adapted to strengthen rail bridges potentially saving the rail industry millions of dollars. The Rail CRC developed a methodology to strengthen rail bridges using carbon composite reinforcing plates attached with a super high-strength glue, rather than the traditional welding of steel doubler-plates. ---more

Know your material
	NEC wool is the new shirt fabric of choice When it comes to Nature’s wonder materials, wool has a lot going for it. It towers above its synthetic competition when to comes to its ability to absorb and release moisture. Wool can absorb almost 32% of its own weight in moisture vapour compared with only 3% or less in many synthetics. Traditionally, however, wool has not been used for business shirting fabric because it’s not sufficiently lightweight. But that’s about to change. ---more

Sensational Materials
	Green light for cheaper dye solar cells Solar cell technology developed at Massey University, New Zealand, may generate electricity from sunlight at a 10th of the cost of current silicon-based photo-electric solar cells. ---more


	Repairing paintings: Nature knows best Materials conservators in Europe have discovered that a glue made from a protein extracted from the bladder of the sturgeon fish has many superior properties when it comes to restoring valuable damaged paintings. ---more


	Boosting the efficiency of silicon solar cells Scientists at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) have boosted the efficiency of solar cells making solar energy much more affordable. The advance could see the price of an installed solar system for an average house fall from around $20,000 to $15,000. ---more

Archive News

Editor - David Salt