Professor George Franks

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George Franks is Professor in Chemical Engineering at the University of Melbourne. He completed his undergraduate degree in Materials Science and Engineering at MIT in 1985. He worked for seven years in the ceramics industry. He completed his PhD in Materials in 1997 at UCSB then moved to Australia. His research includes suspension rheology, ceramic powder processing, materials modelling and minerals processing. His work in materials manufacturing relates to ceramic powder processing for low cost production of near net shape ceramic components. His work is primarily related to processing of complex shaped ceramics and composites with unique microstructures such as multi-scale porous ceramics. Recently 3D printing of ceramics has been a focus.  Biomedical implants are a potential application space for such ceramics.  Research in defence applications includes ultra-high temperature ceramics for aerospace applications and light weight ceramic armour. His research includes composite materials microstructure–properties modelling and atomic scale ab-initio modelling. His work in minerals processing relates to development and application of novel polymeric reagents in solid/liquid separation and froth flotation.  He is a member of the Particulate Fluids Processing Centre and the Defence Materials Technology Centre. He has 120 papers in international peer reviewed journals, 6 book chapters and four patents with 3700 citations and h-index = 32 He is Associate Editor of the Journal of the American Ceramic Society and Editor of Advanced Powder Technology. http://www.chemical.eng.unimelb.edu.au/ceramics/