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Graphene shows promise for bulletproof armour | Graphene shows promise for bulletproof armour |
(2 days later) | |
The "wonder material" graphene could be used to make bulletproof armour. | The "wonder material" graphene could be used to make bulletproof armour. |
US researchers carried out miniature ballistic tests by firing tiny silica spheres at sheets of graphene. | US researchers carried out miniature ballistic tests by firing tiny silica spheres at sheets of graphene. |
In Science magazine, they report that atom-thick layers of this material can be stronger than steel when it comes to absorbing impacts. | In Science magazine, they report that atom-thick layers of this material can be stronger than steel when it comes to absorbing impacts. |
Graphene consists of a sheet of single atoms arranged in a honeycomb structure. | Graphene consists of a sheet of single atoms arranged in a honeycomb structure. |
It is thin, strong, flexible and electrically conductive, and has the potential to transform electronics as well as other technologies. | It is thin, strong, flexible and electrically conductive, and has the potential to transform electronics as well as other technologies. |
Jae-Hwang Lee from the University of Massachusetts in Amherst and colleagues used lasers to observe the silica "microbullets" as they penetrated sheets of graphene between 10 and 100 layers thick. | Jae-Hwang Lee from the University of Massachusetts in Amherst and colleagues used lasers to observe the silica "microbullets" as they penetrated sheets of graphene between 10 and 100 layers thick. |
They compared the kinetic energy of the spheres before and after they pierced the graphene sheets. | They compared the kinetic energy of the spheres before and after they pierced the graphene sheets. |
Observations using an electron microscope revealed that graphene dissipates energy by stretching into a cone shape and then cracking in various directions. | Observations using an electron microscope revealed that graphene dissipates energy by stretching into a cone shape and then cracking in various directions. |
The mini-ballistic tests showed that graphene's extraordinary strength, elasticity and stiffness allowed it to absorb between eight and 10 times the impacts that steel can withstand. | |
However, the way in which graphene sheets responded to the microbullet also resulted in a wider impact hole - which could be a potential disadvantage. | However, the way in which graphene sheets responded to the microbullet also resulted in a wider impact hole - which could be a potential disadvantage. |
Jae-Hwang Lee's team proposes that combining graphene with one or more additional materials to form a composite could prevent the cracking and solve this problem. | Jae-Hwang Lee's team proposes that combining graphene with one or more additional materials to form a composite could prevent the cracking and solve this problem. |
In 2010, Manchester University, UK, researchers Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov shared the Nobel Prize in Physics for their discovery of graphene. | In 2010, Manchester University, UK, researchers Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov shared the Nobel Prize in Physics for their discovery of graphene. |
They published details of their advance in the academic journal Science in 2004. | They published details of their advance in the academic journal Science in 2004. |
Another study published in Nature this week revealed that graphene sheets allow proton particles to pass through them, a property that could improve the efficiency of hydrogen fuel cells. | Another study published in Nature this week revealed that graphene sheets allow proton particles to pass through them, a property that could improve the efficiency of hydrogen fuel cells. |
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