Nanotechnology Research around the world. This week: South Africa
The Nanotechnology Unit of the Advanced Materials Division at Mintek Research Center (South Africa)
Mintek, South Africa’s national mineral research organisation, is one of the world’s leading technology organisations specialising in mineral processing, extractive metallurgy and other related areas. Working closely with industry and other R&D institutions, Mintek provides service test work, process development and optimisation, consulting and innovative products to international clients.
Mintek is an autonomous statutory organisation, which reports to the Minister of Minerals and Energy. About 35 per cent of the annual budget (R290 million) is funded by the State Science Vote with the balance provided by contract R&D, sales of products and services, technology licensing agreements, and joint-venture private sector companies.
Mintek has about 780 permanent staff members, over half of whom are scientists, engineers and other technical R&D specialists.
The Advanced Materials Division (AMD) is a dynamic and multi-disciplinary division that addresses the need
for specific research into the end-use of metals in the manufacturing, fabrication and mining industries. AMD combines the skills of highly qualified and experienced researchers with a comprehensive variety of specialised equipment, some of which is unique in South Africa, and undertakes contract research and development as well as fundamental research in the following areas:
- Precious metals research
- Ferrous and base metal research and development
- Metallurgical service work for complex and difficult problems
The Nanotechnology Unit of the Advanced Materials Division has the following expertise:
- Precious metal nanostructure synthesis
- Metal/polymer nanocomposite synthesis
- Commercial volumes of precious metal nanostructures
- Electrochemically-based systems for sensor applications
One of the key activities of the Unit is “Project AuTEK Nanoscience & Nanotechnology”. Project AuTEK is focused on exploiting the remarkable properties of gold on the nanoscale to develop biomedical and environmental
diagnostic devices. There are three main research areas within the programme: biolabels, sensing platforms and nanostructures.
The programme is extensively networked both nationally and internationally, and brings together a multitude of disciplines. Physicists, chemists, chemical engineers, biologists and mathematicians are brought together to work on specific research themes within the programme, creating a melting pot of new ideas and solutions to old problems.
More information:
Dr Robert Tshikhudo
Advanced Materials Division, Mintek
Randburg, South Africa
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i am a student of metallurgical and materials engineering in the federal university of technology Akure, Ondo State Nigeria. Please i have a zeal for nanotechnology and i want to confirm if students are considered for industrial training in your institute. waiting impatiently for your reply. thanks.
My name is Olajide Jimmy Lolu a part 4 student of metallurgical and materials engineering of the federal university of technology Akure Ondo State Nigeria. Please i want to confirm if you do consider international students for industrial training in your institutes , if you do; i will to know the procedures and requirements. Impatiently anticipating for your response. Thanks
My name is Olajide Jimmy Lolu a part 4 student of metallurgical and materials engineering of the federal university of technology Akure Ondo State Nigeria. Please i want to confirm if you do consider international students for industrial training in your institutes , if you do; i will like to know the procedures and requirements. Impatiently anticipating for your response. Thanks
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