Geelong: Belmont, Vic (CSIRO Materials Science & Engineering)

• Background
• Achievements 

Background

Scientists at CSIRO Materials Science & Engineering in Geelong study the structure, properties and behaviours of fibres and fibrous materials to:

• develop new advanced fibres and fibrous structures
• pilot and industrialise new advanced materials such as carbon nanotubes
• find innovative fibre solutions to a range of Australia's research needs
• stimulate international demand for Australia's natural fibres
• improve the quality and processing of Australian cotton
• grow the technical textile industry including:
  • industrial
  • environmental
  • automotive
  • medical
  • sports
  • military
  • construction.

CSIRO operates a comprehensive multi-fibre processing research and development facility, in Belmont, Geelong, Victoria. 

At this site we provide specialised laboratory and pilot processing facilities, including fibre extrusion, nonwoven, woollen, worsted and cotton and advanced fibrous materials processing capabilities. 

At Belmont, we also design and develop prototype instruments for a range of industry purposes.

Our Belmont facility is located in Geelong at the hub of Australia's fibre research, together with the Centre for Material and Fibre Innovation at Deakin University. 

Achievements

The CSIRO Materials Science & Engineering Fibre Science and Engineering Research Program is known for its achievements in:

• dry spinning of carbon nanotubes into yarn
• dark and medullated fibre test
• Sirolock doffer wire
• Cottonscan instrument for measuring the fineness and maturity of cotton 
• ColorClear™ wool whitening technology
• Quick Dry Merino
• SiroFAST™ (Fabric Assurance by Simple Testing)
• permanent press
• shrinkproofing
• total easy care and machine-washable suits
• SportWool™
• OPTIM™
• Australian Medical Sheepskins
• electrostatically charged wool-rich filters for personal respirators
• online dark speck detector for nonwovens.

At the CSIRO research hub in Clayton, we also have groups that work on:

• forest fibre science
• services to the wood products industries
• fibre chemistry.

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Read more about our work in Creating fibre solutions.

• ColorClear™, OPTIM™, SiroFAST™, Sirolan Fleecescan™, Sirospun™, Solospun™ and SportWool™, are trade marks of CSIRO Australia.

Contact Information

Primary Contact

Contact

Locations

Related Links

• Future Manufacturing Flagship
• Technical Textiles
• Wool Textiles
• Cotton Textiles
• CSIRO Materials Science and Engineering
• Colac Road, GoogleMapsAustralia [external link]
• Whereis.com.au [external link]

• Fibre Science and Engineering Research Program overview
• Textiles overview 
• Cotton textiles overview
• Wool overview
• Industry benefits from technical textile research facilities
• Advanced fibrous materials: lighter, stronger, smarter
• Creating fibre solutions
• The future is fibres: 2008 vision and strategy