Graphene - it's potential use and applications

**Magister Militum Flavius Aetius** · December 06, 2010, 01:56 PM

As some of you know, graphene is the strongest substance we know of yet. It's 200x stronger than steel and a sheet of it as thick as ceran wrap could hold an elephant. But I wanna know more about it. What is it's potential? Could we possibly use this to develop a class 2 civilization if we apply it to everyday useage quickly enough? I'm looking for answers here.

**Elfdude** · December 06, 2010, 06:47 PM

It's potential is rather unlimited it's creating it that is difficult and expensive, the raw materials for it are everywhere being nothing more than carbon.

**Jom** · December 06, 2010, 08:36 PM

Originally Posted by Magister Militae Flavius Aetius

As some of you know, graphene is the strongest substance we know of yet. It's 200x stronger than steel and a sheet of it as thick as ceran wrap could hold an elephant. But I wanna know more about it. What is it's potential? Could we possibly use this to develop a class 2 civilization if we apply it to everyday useage quickly enough? I'm looking for answers here.

Imagine anything which has to be super strong but also extremely light and there you will have your applications: aeroplanes, boats, cars, perhaps in buildings, too.

**Prince Odysseus** · December 06, 2010, 09:29 PM

Sorry to trouble any of you for an explanation, but what exactly is the process for its formation (chemical compound would be appreciated as well)? What aspects of it are so costly?

**Jack04** · December 07, 2010, 05:32 AM

Originally Posted by Carloginias

Sorry to trouble any of you for an explanation, but what exactly is the process for its formation (chemical compound would be appreciated as well)? What aspects of it are so costly?

It is just carbon arranged in a 1D (so one atom thick) hexagonal lattice. Its an incredibly simple structure.

It was first created when a couple of scientists managed to essentially pull off a layer with some Scotch tape. Hardly hi-tech.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graphen...and_production

Edit: ... and it's uses are potentially almost endless. From arsenic filtration through quantum computing and onto building space elevators.

**Magister Militum Flavius Aetius** · December 07, 2010, 06:31 AM

What about temperature? I know that the only chance of survival for humanity is by importing carbon fuels from the moons of jupiter and saturn. But the requirements to do that are tremendous - fusion reactors, 100 kilometer long starships. And graphene will help they are really close to being able to mass produce it. But the problem is, is it able to withstand MASSIVE changes in temperature.

**Jack04** · December 07, 2010, 11:56 AM

Originally Posted by Magister Militae Flavius Aetius

I know that the only chance of survival for humanity is by importing carbon fuels from the moons of jupiter and saturn.

You do? I certainly don't.

The melting point is ~3000 K.

**Elfdude** · December 07, 2010, 10:23 PM

Originally Posted by Magister Militae Flavius Aetius

What about temperature? I know that the only chance of survival for humanity is by importing carbon fuels from the moons of jupiter and saturn. But the requirements to do that are tremendous - fusion reactors, 100 kilometer long starships. And graphene will help they are really close to being able to mass produce it. But the problem is, is it able to withstand MASSIVE changes in temperature.

Wait what? Only chance for survival is importing carbon fuels? Where do you get that? Importing carbon fuels would be prohibitatively expensive. You can't get enough energy from them. What's much more likely is the importation of hydrogen which is much much much more common (the most common in fact) for use in fusion reactors. Temperature will most likely be controlled through use of hi temperature ceramics and magnetic shielding which far exceed the ability of pure carbon (basic chemistry here) to withstand temperatures. Potentially if there were some uranium crisis we might start importing that but carbon fuels are simply too common on earth and their application for starcraft is negligible at best in order to achieve the power we need nuclear or some sort of self sustaining process is absolutely necessary. As the price of carbon fuels goes up their use in transportation and all sorts of other things will gradually decrease. Not to mention in a few decades it's not unlikely that we will have little problems with synthesizing whatever we need from base elements.

**Magister Militum Flavius Aetius** · December 07, 2010, 02:59 PM

so close to where tungsten melts. Good. That would make it applicable in nuclear fission/fusion reactors.

**Magister Militum Flavius Aetius** · December 08, 2010, 02:51 PM

Yes but we'd still need carbon for other things. most of the world would be powered by fission or fusion reactors by then. And I know all about that. I have a degree in nuclear engineering.

**M D** · December 08, 2010, 04:18 PM

I went to a conference in London where there was a section devoted to the future materials, Graphene was one.. Believe me, the possibilities are truly endless, only problem is the cost.

**Magister Militum Flavius Aetius** · December 08, 2010, 04:41 PM

Yeah, 1000 Dollars an ounce. Ouch...
I saw a history channel program on potential scifi tech and it said that they were very close to being able to effectively mass produce graphene.
Also the fact that graphene is 2D calls for some concern. In 3D form it is affected by certain fluctuations (as with all 3D objects), as specified by the Mermin-Wagner Theorem, and it can reduce or increase it's strength.