Associate Professor George Franks

S. B., Materials Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
PhD, Materials Engineering, University of California at Santa Barbara.

Associate Professor

email:
Telephone: (61) 3 8344 9020
Fax: (61) 3 8344 4153

Room 3.19, Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering Building 1

Current Research Activities

• Nano and Biomolecular Engineering
  • Nanostructured Materials
  • Tissue Engineering
• Bioprocess Engineering
  • Industrial Biopolymers
• Materials and Minerals Engineering
  • Hydrometallurgy
  • Polymer Science
  • Composite and Ceramic Materials
• Environmental Engineering
  • Water Purification
  • Waste Water Processing and Recycling

George Franks' research interests focus on the innovative application of controlled particle interactions to develop new processes for mineral processing and advanced ceramics materials. He has fundamental interests in nano-scale interactions and how to control them via surface and colloid chemistry.

A long-term direction for several years has been in developing understanding of Hofmeister effects through zeta potential and suspension rheology measurements of oxides and more recently emulsion oil droplets. Understanding the factors that influence suspension rheology are studied in order to develop applications in mineral tailings disposal and near net shape ceramic component fabrication. In mineral processing flocculation and flotation are prime interests as areas to improve the sustainable use of water. In recent years Franks has applied his skills to bio- and pharma- applications.

Professional Affiliations

• Associate Editor, Journal of the American Ceramic Society, since 2004
• Member of the Advisory Board for Advanced Powder Technology, since 2006.
• Member of the American Ceramic Society, the Australian Society of Rheology, the Society of Rheology, USA, the International Association of Colloid and Interface Scientists, the Australasian Ceramic Society, and the Australian Particle Technology Society of the Institution of Engineers Australia.
• Reviewer for the Journal of the American Ceramic Society, Langmuir, the Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, Colloids and Surfaces A:, Ceramic Transactions, Particle and Particle Systems Characterisation, Journal of Physical Chemistry B, PCCP and Journal of Materials Research.
• Grant Reviewer for the Australian Research Council, Discovery Grants.
• Conference organisation committee, Australian Colloid & Interface Symposium, Feb. 2005.
• Conference organisation committee, Japan-Australia Surface Chem. Symposium, Dec. 2005

Honours/Awards

• R & D 100 Award (1991) for developing zirconia-silicon nitride composite with tailored coefficient of thermal expansion for electronic packaging applications. R & D Magazine , USA .
• H. Kent Bowen Extra Mile Award (1990) for “going the extra mile” in performing my responsibilities as a development engineer at Ceramic Process Systems Co., USA .
• Kathlyn Langford Wolfe Award (1985) for excellence in combining research in Materials Science with Humanities. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology, (MIT), USA .

Professional Experience

• 2005- University teaching and research at the University of Melbourne, Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Associate Professor.
• 1999-2005 University of Newcastle , Australia , Department of Chemical Engineering. Lecturer, Senior Lecturer and Associate Professor.
• 2002-2005 Flocculation Group Leader of the Special Research Centre for Multiphase Processes.
• 1997-99 Postdoctoral research, University of Melbourne , Australia .
• 1987-92 Industrial experience, Ceramic Process Systems Inc., USA
• 1985-87 Industrial experience, Norton Co., USA

Selected Recent Publications

1. Y.Gan, E.J. Wanless, G.V. Franks, "Lattice-resolution imaging of the sapphire (0001) surface in air by AFM", Surface Science, 601, 1064-1071 (2007).
2. A. Olsen, G.V. Franks, S. Biggs and G.J. Jameson, "An improved collision efficiency model for particle aggregation", Journal of Chemical Physics, 125, 184906 (2006).
3. G.V. Franks, B. Moss and D. Phelan, "Chitosan tissue scaffolds by emulsion templating", Journal of Biomaterials Science, Polymer Edition, 17, 1439-1450 (2006).
4. V. Deinz, M. Bostrom, G.V. Franks and B.W. Ninham, "Extended DLVO: Electrostatic and non-electrostatic forces in oxide suspensions", Advances in Colloid and Interface Science, 123-126, 5-15 (2006).
5. Y. Zhou, G.V. Franks, "Flocculation mechanism induced by cationic polymers investigated by light scattering", Langmuir, 22, 6775-6786 (2006).
6. G.V. Franks, C.V. Sepulveda, G.J. Jameson, "pH-sensitive flocculation: Settling rates and sediment densities", AIChE Journal, 52, 2774-2782 (2006).
7. Y. Gan, G.V. Franks, "Charging behavior of the Gibbsite Basal (001) surface in NaCl solution investigated by AFM colloidal probe technique", Langmuir, 22, 6087-6092 (2006).
8. G. V. Franks, “Improved Solid/Liquid Separation using Stimulant Sensitive Flocculation and Consolidation”, Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, 292, 598-603 (2005).
9. G. V. Franks, A.M. Djerdjev and J.K. Beattie, “The absence of cation or anion effects at low salt concentrations on the charge at the oil/water interface”, Langmuir, 21, 8670-8674 (2005).
10. G. V. Franks, “Innovative Applications of Controlled Particle Interactions”, Chemical Engineering Research and Design, 83, 937-945 (2005).
11. Y. Gan and G. V. Franks, “High resolution AFM images of the a -Al 2O 3 Single Crystal (0001) Surface in water”, J. Phys. Chem. B., 109, 12474-12479 (2005).
12. G. V. Franks, Y. Zhou, Y Yan, G. J. Jameson and S. Biggs, “Effect of Aggregate Size on Sediment Bed Rheological Properties”, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 6, 4490-4498 (2004).
13. S. M. Iveson and G. V. Franks, “Particle Technology Demonstrations for the Class Room and Laboratory”, Chemical Engineering Education, 37 [4], 274-280 (2003).
14. G. V. Franks and L. Meagher, “The Isoelectric Points of Sapphire Crystals and Alpha-Alumina Powder”, Colloids and Surfaces A:, 214, 99-110 (2003).
15. S. B. Johnson, D. E. Dunstan and G. V. Franks, “Rheology of Crosslinked Chitosan / Alumina Suspensions Used for a New GelCasting Process”, J. Am. Ceram Soc., 85 1699-1705 (2002).
16. G. V. Franks, “Zeta Potentials and Yield Stresses of Silica Suspensions in Concentrated Monovalent Electrolytes: Isoelectric Point Shift and Additional Attraction”, Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, 249, 44-51 (2002).
17. G. V. Franks, Z. Zhou, N. J. Duin, and D. V. Boger, "Effect of Interparticle Forces on Shear Thickening of Oxide Suspensions", Journal of Rheology, 44 [4], 759-779 (2000).
18. S. B. Johnson, G. V. Franks, P. J. Scales, D. V. Boger and T. W. Healy, "Surface Chemistry-Rheology Relationships in Concentrated Mineral Suspensions", International Journal of Mineral Processing, 58, 267-304 (2000).
19. G. V. Franks, S. B. Johnson, P. J. Scales, D. V. Boger, and T. W. Healy, “Ion Specific Strength of Attractive Particle Networks”, Langmuir, 15, 4411-4420 (1999).
20. M. Colic, G. V. Franks, M. L. Fisher, and F. F. Lange, “Chemisorption of Organofunctional Silanes on Silicon Nitride for Improving Aqueous Processing”, Journal of the American Ceramic Society, 81 [8] 2157-2163 (1998).
21. M. Colic, G. V. Franks, M. L. Fisher, and F. F. Lange, “Effect of Counterion Size on Short Range Repulsive Forces at High Ionic Strengths”, Langmuir, 13, 3129-3125 (1997).
22. G. V. Franks and F. F. Lange, “Plastic-to-Brittle Transition of Saturated, Alumina Powder Compacts”, Journal of the American Ceramic Society, 79 [12] 3161-3168 (1996).
23. G. V. Franks, B. V. Velamakanni and F. F. Lange, “VibraForming and In-situ Flocculation of Consolidated, Coagulated Alumina Slurries”, J. American Ceramic Society, 78, [5] 1324-28, (1995).
24. E. P. Luther, J. A. Yanez, G. V. Franks, F. F. Lange and D. S. Pearson, “The Effect of Ammonium Citrate on the Rheology and Particle Packing of Alumina Slurries”, Journal of the American Ceramic Society, 78 [6] 1495-500, (1995).

Patents

• D. E. Dunstan, J. Besida and G. V. Franks, “Ceramic and Metallic Materials and Methods for their production from Flexible Gelled Materials", PCT number WO2006021038 granted 02 March 2006.
• G. V. Franks, Y. Yan, S. Biggs and G. J. Jameson, “Stimulant Sensitive Flocculation and Consolidation”, PCT number WO2001076845 granted 10 March 2005.
• G. V. Franks, D. E. Dunstan and S. B. Johnson, “Methods of Forming Shaped Articles from Suspensions”, US Patent number 7,192,546, granted 20 March 2007. Australian Patent number 2001246249 granted 6 January 2006. PCT number WO200176845 granted 18 October 2001.

Curriculum Vitae [pdf]