Key Centre for Polymer Colloids
An Australian Research Council
Key Centre of Teaching and Research
About the Key Centre
The Key Centre for Polymer Colloids is an international centre of excellence for research and training, with about 40 Australian and international researchers and research students. It has world-class facilities for the synthesis and characterization of synthetic and natural polymer colloids. It also provides research support for Australian and international primary and secondary industry.
What's New?
- Read about the 8th Australasian Polymer Summer School
What are polymer colloids?
Polymer colloids combine the material properties of polymers with the unusal colloidal properties associated with particles of sizes ranging from nanometers to microns. They are found in a wide range of consumer products and industrial processes, including paints and adhesives.
They are also of great importance in natural systems, such as starches in food. » more about polymer colloids
Click here for our latest research results
What does the Centre do?
- Research in all aspects of polymer colloids and related fields in collaboration with other research organizations
- Supervise graduate studies (PhD, MSc) for students from Australia and any other country
- Organise and endorse short courses for researchers, industrial partners and students
- Develop educational source materials for introductory chemistry courses
- Consulting and contract research with industry
Our projects involve pure and applied aspects of polymer colloids, in both natural and synthetic systems. The training program includes both Short Courses and research higher degree qualifications. Former KCPC researchers are working in many different parts of the world.
The rational design made possible by research and training is opening the way to make novel, better and more environmentally-friendly industrial products. It is leading to improved ways of understanding and using natural and artificial polymer colloids in food, agricultural and biomedical applications. » more about the KCPC
