Institute for Applied Materials

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Welcome to the Insitute for Applied Materials group website. The Institute of Applied Materials is an interdisciplinary materials research group at the University of Pretoria associated with the Departments of Physics, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering.

Staff

• Prof. Walter W Focke
• Dr. Johan FWJ Labuschagne
• Prof. Philip Crouse

Research focus areas

• Carbon Materials

 ** Nuclear-grade carbon for pebble-bed reactor

• Polymers and Nano Composites

 ** Nano-clay polymer additives 
 ** Dry processing of ceramic composite boards 
 ** Zirconium chemicals from zircon sand 
 ** "Green" Pyrotechnic Time-Delay Compositions 
 ** Pigments for glazes 

• Fluoro-materials Science

 ** Starch-based plastic compounds 
 ** Fast-release solid pesticide formulations 
 ** Gassing of emulsion explosives 
 ** Polymer additives including photodegradants for polyethylene, intumescent flame retardants and volatile corrosion inhibitors for plastics packaging.

• Inorganinc materials and Particle Technology

 ** Fluoropolymers 
 ** Dry fluorination 
 ** Fluorine production 
 ** HF-based minerals processing