Unveiling of new technology at Curtin University

6/10/93

A longer life for surgical implants is possible thanks to new technology unveiled in Perth today by Commerce and Trade Minister Hendy Cowan.

This prospect and other scientific benefits come from a new facility at Curtin University's Applied Chemistry School.

Mr Cowan says the facility embraces a million dollars' worth of leading-edge equipment.

"This latest facility, together with existing analytical services from the school, gives Western Australian industry an ability to maintain its competitive advantage in materials science," he said.

The technology, known as vibrational spectroscopy, is set to help solve problems in fields such as mining, minerals processing, ceramics, polymers and pharmaceutical industries as well as provide a base for biotechnology and medical applications.

"For instance, in the area of medical implants, the life of polyethylene components is limited," Mr Cowan said.

"This hardly constitutes a successful outcome for any patient undergoing surgical implant.

"Other synthetic products implanted into humans have wildly-varying service periods because the body's fluid causes oxidation.

"This new facility at Curtin will study these effects so that alternative process and manufacturing techniques can be developed by industry to enhance the lifetime of orthopaedic implants."

Mr Cowan said the facility would also:

·       trace any changes in the ingredients of tablets and capsules during their manufacture;

·       improve the efficiency of extracting alumina deposits;

·       look for alternative processing methods for the recovery of gold which bypass the use of cyanide.

The Vice-Chancellor of Curtin, Professor John Maloney, said that the facility would be used by two other Perth universities, UWA and Murdoch, and the CSIRO.

"Curtin's industry advisory committee sees the latest development as another key step towards the establishment of a comprehensive new materials technology centre in Western Australia," Professor Maloney said.

The equipment comes from the German company Bruker, and is its first such venture in Australia in the field of vibrational spectroscopy.

Mr Cowan said Bruker's support was appreciated.  Analytical and testing services from the school were already being sold to more than 250 Australian companies and clients in South East Asia.

"This type of operation prevents research being purely abstract and ensures scientists are abreast of economic and commercial developments," he added.

Media contacts: Jane Machin-Everill (Curtin) 351 3173

Peter Jackson (Government Media Office) 222 9595