Professor Richard Yang from Western Sydney University's School of Engineering, Design and Built Environment and Dr Tosin Famakinwa from the University's Teaching and Research Technical Services are part of a research team that has received prestigious funding from the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) for the United States National Science Foundation (NSF) Convergence Accelerator Track I: Sustainable Materials for Global Challenges in 2023.
Professor Yang is leading the research of fabrication, testing, characterisation, modelling, and optimal design of 3D printed recycled thermoplastics as part of a project titled Designing for circular economies:Creating impact from local plastic waste using off-grid containerized 3D printers & practice based learning, which is being led by international 3D printing company, re:3D Inc.
It will join the Convergence Accelerator, which focuses on research addressing the challenges aligned to the manufacturing, reuse and recycling of critical materials and products.
Professor Yang said 3D printing and its application to the circular economy, or full life cycle use, is critical to developing sustainable, zero-waste designs and manufacturing technologies that can generate positive long-term impact across the energy and infrastructure sectors as well as other essential functions.
"This is an exciting opportunity to develop better processes for utilising existing materials such as local plastic waste and establishing ways to repurpose and redesign this material to give it further longevity and create environmentally friendly practices," said Professor Yang.
"This solution will advance current processes for manufacturing and using local plastics, with the overall aim to reduce waste significantly."
The project is one of just two Australian projects that were awarded the funding from CSIRO, joining 14 US awardees in the NSF Convergence Accelerator announced on 19 December 2022.
Over the next nine months, the project will go through the Convergence Accelerator's hands-on innovation curriculum, designed to transform the initial concept into a prototype.
The solution will focus on advancing fundamental materials science, including materials design and manufacturing processes; circular design to create environmentally and economically sustainable materials and products; and training methods to prepare the current and future workforce.
"It is exciting to be involved, with everyone coming together to share new ideas and innovative approaches, with the opportunity to create change that can have lasting impact on a global scale. This project is another direct commitment from Western Sydney University to the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)," Professor Yang said.
Western Sydney University was named number one in the world for its social, ecological and economic impact in the 2022 Times Higher Education (THE) University Impact Rankings.
This project has been financially supported jointly by CSIRO and the NSF.
