At Deakin’s Research Hub for Future Fibres, funded by the Australian Research Council (ARC), we are dedicated to advancing sustainable fibre technologies. Located within Deakin's Institute for Frontier Materials, the Hub leverages top-tier research teams and facilities to drive innovation across the fibre value chain.
Our emphasis on sustainability, circular economy principles and extraordinary functionality enables us to create impactful solutions that redefine industry standards. We focus on modifying traditional materials, developing carbon-neutral processes and enhancing fibre performance, paving the way for a sustainable future across various industries.
Our research addresses key challenges in fibre technology, fostering innovation and sustainability throughout the industry.
We aim to reshape the fibre landscape by enhancing the sustainability of materials traditionally derived from petrochemicals. Our efforts include modifying natural fibres, developing carbon-neutral processes and assessing the compostability of both existing and new fibre types.
We are committed to establishing a circular economy within the fibre industry, ensuring materials are designed for reuse. Our teams investigate the degradation pathways of fibres, explore robust new materials and blends, and identify gaps in recycling technologies to facilitate a seamless transition from product to raw material.
Our researchers explore innovative applications that enhance fibre performance. From investigating advanced materials like Graphene and MXene to developing high-performance carbon fibre precursors, we focus on transformative changes along the fibre value chain, leading to groundbreaking end products.
Join us in transforming the fibre industry. Contribute to innovative research, explore collaboration opportunities and help drive sustainability in textiles.
Work supported by our research hub and fibres facility will bring benefits to a range of industries – such as automotive, mining and fashion – through a wide array of partnership projects.
Professor Iain Martin
Vice-Chancellor, Deakin University
Our interdisciplinary team integrates sustainability throughout the supply chain, driving transformative projects that set new industry standards.
Professor Joselito Razal is the Director of the Hub, transforming the fibre industry by integrating sustainability throughout the supply chain. He also leads a team of over 100 researchers at Deakin’s Institute for Frontier Materials and has received multiple ARC Fellowships for his pioneering work.
Professor Russell Varley is the Deputy Director of the Hub, bringing with him extensive expertise in the development and application of advanced composite materials, self-healing materials, and materials designed for extreme environments. With a distinguished career in materials science, he has made significant contributions to research aimed at enhancing the performance, durability, and sustainability of materials in challenging and high-performance settings.
Our state-of-the-art Future Fibres Facility is designed to translate cutting-edge research from lab to label. With advanced fibre production, yarn processing and specialised knitting and weaving equipment, we facilitate seamless innovation across industries. From prototyping to full-scale production, our facility empowers researchers to bring transformative ideas to fruition.
Our team is pioneering sustainable textile solutions to address critical environmental challenges.
We are developing innovative processes to recycle textile waste into pigments. By converting discarded fabrics into vibrant pigments, our research promotes a circular economy and reduces landfill waste, in collaboration with industry leaders like Textile Recyclers Australia.
In partnership with Simba Global, we are addressing microplastic pollution from textiles. Our research focuses on understanding and mitigating microplastic shedding during laundry processes, aiming to protect both the environment and human health.
We collaborate with industry partners to tackle real-world challenges in sustainability and the circular economy. Key partnerships include Nanollose where we’re developing sustainable fabrics from waste; we’re working with Xefco on a water-free dyeing method; and Carbon Revolution to reduce waste in carbon fibre manufacturing.
The Hub serves as a vital link between Deakin University's Institute for Frontier Materials and long-term industry partners. Funding from the ARC, Deakin University and external partners enables us to leverage resources to develop new fibre technologies and explore commercialisation options.
Have questions or want to learn more about our research? Reach out to our team to explore research opportunities and collaboration.
Email the team
Phone (+61) 3 5227 8580
Connect with us on LinkedIn
Visit the Research Hub of Future Fibres website
