100 + INNOVATIONS
UNSW Sustainable Materials Research and Technology( SMaRT) Centre
Learn More
Researching and developing technologies that transform waste into a new generation of ' green ' materials and products
Research Centre
National & international partners
Challenge
Many of the natural resources and materials needed for batteries and other renewable energy technologies are becoming scarce and more costly( economically and environmentally). Recovering these materials from end-of-life products will be crucial to future global sustainability efforts.
Solution
SMaRT is advancing its work to create real-world impact via multiple collaborations involving industry, community organisations and government agencies. Combining the distinctive research capabilities of UNSW ' s academics, the SMaRT Centre has a track record of delivering research and technologies suitable for implementation, the latest being various Microfactorie TM technologies for which extensive future R & D initiatives are planned.
Target customers / end-users
• national and international research partners
• industry and governments across Australia.
Progress
• a collaboration between the UNSW SMaRT Centre and IT asset management company Renew IT has begun turning discarded hard plastics into 3D printer feedstock via SMaRT ' s first commerciallyrun Plastics Filament MICROfactories™
• developing a Green Aluminium MICROfactorie™ module at Jamestrong’ s aluminium can manufacturing facility in Taree, NSW
Advanced Manufacturing, Materials & Design
The UNSW Sustainable Materials Research and Technology( SMaRT) Centre pioneers the‘ science of microrecycling’ to develop Microfactorie TM and other technologies that recover and reform valuable materials from hard-to-recycle wastes into feedstock for remanufacturing. The aim is to create environmental, economic and societal benefits through a new circular economy.
• 27