	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
	Materials on the rails The Cooperative Research Centre for Railway Engineering and Technologies (or Rail CRC for short) is a joint venture of Australia's leading rail industry companies and major universities to advance research and development for a more efficient national rail industry. Many of its investigations have a materials focus and demonstrate the valuable contribution that materials science and engineering can make towards improving an industry’s viability. Here are three examples. ---more

Tin Tacks
	Using high performance carbon fibre to repair bridges Traditional techniques for the repair and replacement of bridge components can be expensive, time consuming and cause delays to road users. One effective solution is the use of carbon fibre reinforced plastics. Not only are carbon fibres 8 to 10 times stronger than steel, but they are 5 times lighter - and the reinforced composite does not corrode. ---more

Know your material
	Shining a light on mercury The Australian government has recently announced that incandescent bulbs will be phased out for compact fluorescents by 2010 so we can expect to see a lot more of them around the country in the coming years. While the energy-saving merits of compact fluorescent bulbs have received a lot of media in recent months, a closer examination of what goes into them raises a few questions because most compact fluorescent bulbs carry a small amount of mercury. ---more

Sensational Materials
	Termites test materials without touching Researchers have shown that termites can tell what sort of material their food is made of without having to actually touch it. The findings may lead to improvements in the control of feeding termites. ---more


	Grow your own dress It smells like red wine and feels like sludge when wet, but the paper-like cellulose dress 'grown' at the Institute of Agriculture, University of Western Australia (UWA), fits snug as a second skin. The unique bacterial-fermented dress is actually made from wine. ---more


	Combating microbial corrosion in pipelines Researchers at Monash University are working on ways to reduce corrosion in gas and oil pipelines caused by microbes. The research could save industry millions of dollars each year. ---more

Archive News

Editor - David Salt