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Deakin’s Carbon Nexus to partner with DowAksa

DowAksa, a joint venture between Aksa and The Dow Chemical
Company has formed a partnership with Deakin University’s carbon fibre research
centre, Carbon Nexus

The agreement will involve collaborative research and
development projects plus professional development and exchange opportunities to
advance materials and manufacturing process technologies.

Deakin University Vice-Chancellor Professor Jane den
Hollander announced the partnership at the third biennial Carbon Fibre Future
Directions Conference, hosted by Carbon Nexus, at Geelong this morning.

“What we are
announcing here today is a key step in the evolution of that strategy and
demonstrates the critical role universities play in supporting local economies
to reinvigorate and develop new economic bases,” den Hollander said.

den Hollander said the partnership between Deakin and
DowAksa would initially include collaborative carbon fibre research projects
focused on catalysing local demand for DowAksa carbon fibre, with eventual
opportunities for adoption by industries globally.

“The Carbon Nexus
pilot line will be optimised for the output of DowAksa carbon fibre samples to
support the research projects,” she said.

DowAksa is a charter member of US advanced composites
consortium award announced last month by President Barack Obama to establish a
national advanced composites manufacturing institute.

Subject to final negotiations between this consortium and
the US Department of Energy, the new institute being formed, called the
Institute for Advanced Composites Materials Innovation (IACMI), will bring more
than $250 million USD in combined federal, state, corporate and academic
support to accelerate the development of an advanced composites industry in the
US.

Deakin University, already a member of the Oak Ridge Carbon
Fiber Composites Consortium based in Tennessee, was among one of almost 200
organisations expressing formal support for the IACMI proposal.

Once the new Institute begins operations, the University
hopes it will provide an extended platform for collaborative engagement and
networking with business and academic leaders in the American market.

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