Patrick Keane

Patrick Keane

School of Chemical Engineering

Faculty of Sciences, Engineering and Technology


Dr. Patrick Keane is a Researcher at the University of Adelaide, where he designs, constructs, and operates laboratory-scale reactor vessels for the Bayer process as part of the AlumiNEXT HILTCRC (Heavy Industry Low-carbon Transition Cooperative Research Centre). His research expertise encompasses a wide range of areas, including material science and engineering, thermal energy storage, additive manufacturing, geopolymers & composites, and electrification & energy efficiency 

Dr. Keane has extensive experience in aluminosilicate synthesis, characterisation, and mechanical property evaluation. He is also adept at organic and inorganic chemistry, particularly in synthesising ceramic precursors. His work includes the study of corrosion of metals and ceramics exposed to molten salts at high temperatures. He has proven experience with various ceramic processing techniques such as pressing, extruding, tape casting, and firing.   
 

A significant portion of his research focuses on thermal energy storage systems. He has designed, prototyped, and analysed thermal energy storage systems operating at temperatures above 800°C and below -30°C, utilising brines, molten salts, and refractories. He has also worked on producing chloride and carbonate eutectics for these systems.   
 

Dr. Keane has proven experience in the material aspect of large-scale additive manufacturing using concrete. His work at the US Army Corps of Engineers involved the rheology and material properties of 3D printable concrete, including training personnel on its application for constructing barrack huts. He has also been involved in 3D printing using plastics and geopolymer composites on both small and large scales.   
 

His doctoral research focused on "Amorphous Self-Healing Geopolymer Composites for Molten Salt Containment". He has investigated natural alkali activators and rock-forming clays, and worked on the decarbonization of Portland cement using metakaolin-based geopolymers. His publications reflect extensive work on geopolymer composites, including those reinforced with basalt fibers, hemp, flax felt, and bone ash.   
 

Dr. Keane contributed to the RACE 2030 CRC's work on the electrification of heat  and produced a literature review on energy usage in Australian agricultural sectors for the Australian Alliance for Energy Productivity.   


Dr. Keane's research has led to numerous peer-reviewed journal articles and conference presentations. His publications have appeared in journals such as Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells, Journal of the American Ceramic Society, International Journal of Applied Ceramic Technology, and Ceramics International. He also holds a provisional patent for "AMORPHOUS SELF-HEALING GEOPOLYMERS AND USES THEREOF".

Dr. Keane has been successful in securing and contributing to significant research funding. In 2025, he became a Co-Investigator for the "Development and Commercialisation of a Novel Domestic Heat Pump Water Heater," funded by RACE 2030.  In 2023, he served as the Materials Team Leader for the Australia India Strategic Research Fund Grant titled "Thermal Energy Storage for Food/Grain Drying with CST/RE to Lower Pollution" and was also a Co-Investigator for "Electrifying the Cold Chain – Phase 2," funded by RACE 2030 CRC.  He was recognized as an Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) Fellow in 2016.    

His research contributions have also been recognized through several awards. He won first place for the best PhD candidate presentation at the Alkali Activated Materials and Geopolymers ECI Conference in 2023.  In 2022, he was the recipient of the Australian Ceramic Society Travel Bursary Award.  Furthermore, he received the US Army Corps of Engineers Challenge Coin for excellence at the Maneuver Support, Sustainment, Protection, Integration Experiment in 2018.

Dr. Keane possesses experience in academic teaching and practical training. He has served as a Tutorial Lecturer and Grader for Mechanical Engineering courses MECH ENG 3005 and 5005 at UniSA STEM. Additionally, he was a practical instructor and marker for Mathematical Methods for Engineers 1. During his time with the US Army Corps of Engineers, he trained over 15 United States Marines and Soldiers on material consistency, rheology, and feed systems for large-scale additive manufacturing of barrack huts. Dr. Keane also has a long-standing background in music, having studied and taught cello for 20 years.


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