	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

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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

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

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Future Materials News


	Strengthening the network ---more

Research News
	Full metal jacket: stamping fibre-metal laminates Fibre-metal laminates, or FMLs, are made up of sheets of light-weight metal, like aluminium, with a layer of polymer fibre in between. They combine the fabulous strength of metal with the capacity to resist failure from cracking. Unfortunately, because they cost a bit more to produce, fibre-metal laminates are only used in a limited number of applications. But that might be about to change thanks to pioneering research by engineers at ANU. ---more

Tin Tacks
	Dry-Treat and UNSW: building a better barrier coating Limestone and marble are becoming increasingly popular in both interior and exterior building applications, however, they suffer poor resistance to common household acids such as lemon juice, vinegar and champagne. Just a few drops of champagne or lemon juice spilt from a glass and left unnoticed may leave a permanent mark on the surface. ---more

Know your material
	Talk about tiny tubes They are 50,000 times thinner than a human hair, and many materials scientists believe they will be the wonder material of the 21st Century. Are they the key that unlocks new potential from the emerging science of nanotechnology? They are - of course - nanotubes, and our understanding of how to build and use them is growing at an explosive rate. ---more

Sensational Materials
	The spectacular Spectrolaser Researchers from the CRC for Clean Power from Lignite (CRC CPL) have designed and commercialised a revolutionary new instrument capable of analysing the atomic elements in virtually any material, quickly and cheaply. It's called the Spectrolaser. ---more


	Nanotube fuel tanks One revolutionary option for storing hydrogen in car fuel tanks is carbon nanotubes - microscopic cage-like tubes of carbon atoms. Because of their structure and size the tubes have the ability to absorb hydrogen gas in large quantities. This can then be re-released with mild heating. One stumbling block is that to date, manufacture of very large quantities of nanotubes has simply not been an economically viable proposition. ---more


	CSIRO is ahead of the pack with magnesium sheet metal With its lightweight and high-strength qualities, magnesium sheet is considered a growth product for the 21st century. However, its uptake has been slow due to its expensive and difficult production processes. That might be about to change thanks to new CSIRO technology. The technology is capable of producing thin magnesium sheet direct from the molten metal. ---more


	But is it Chicken? At what point does meat cease to be meat? On the 6th July a paper was published in Tissue Engineering which looked at two methods of growing animal cells in-vitro that may open the door to commercial production of lab developed meat for human consumption. Chicken nuggets without the chicken? ---more

Archive News

Editor - David Salt