Centre for Material and Fibre Innovation
ITRI
Australia is known for the production of high quality natural fibres, particularly animal fibres such as wool. The natural fibre industry is a multi-billion dollar industry in Australia. Deakin research covers a wide range of natural and manufactured fibres and their blends, with support from ARC, AWI, RIRDC, and local industries such as Basell Australia.
In collaboration with Wuhan University of Science and Engineering and Beijing Institute of Clothing Technology, we have converted wool fibres into very fine powders and then incorporated the fine powders into synthetic polymers via a melt extrusion process. The new hybrid fibres have enhanced properties.
We are the leading group in research into electrospun nanofibres, particularly bi-component nanofibres. Nanofibre materials are used in areas such as advanced filtration, protective clothing, and scaffolding for tissue engineering.
