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EP 1 610 916 A1

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(43) Date of publication: 04.01.2006 Bulletin 2006/01 (21) Application number: 03816013.1 (22) Date of filing: 22.09.2003

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC):  B22D 11/06(1968.09) B22D 21/04(1968.09) C22F 1/06(1968.09) B22D 11/16(1974.07) B22D 27/20(1968.09) (86) International application number: PCT/AU2003/001243 (87) International publication number: WO 2004/076097 (10.09.2004 Gazette 2004/37)

(84) Designated Contracting States: AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HU IE IT LI LU MC NL PT RO SE SI SK TR Designated Extension States: AL LT LV MK (30) Priority: 28.02.2003 AU 2003900971 (71) Applicant: COMMONWEALTH SCIENTIFIC AND INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH ORGANISATION Campbell, ACT 2612 (AU)

(72) Inventors: LIANG, Daniel, Dong Rowville, VIC 3178 (AU) BORBIDGE, Wendy Hawthorn, VIC 3122 (AU) EAST, Daniel, Raymond Carlton North, VIC 3054 (AU) ALLEN, Ross, Victor East Bentleigh, VIC 3165 (AU) RENSHAW, David, Ian Essendon, VIC 3040 (AU) BETTLES, Colleen, Joyce Glen Waverley, VIC 3150 (AU) GIBSON, Mark, Antony Mount Waverley, VIC 3149 (AU) (74) Representative: Jenkins, Peter David  PAGE WHITE & FARRER 54 Doughty Street London WC1N 2LS London WC1N 2LS (GB)