Quite a lot has already been written about the fact that graphene will save the world, due to its unique properties and prospects for widespread use in various fields. But in reality, there was little opportunity to see life-size evidence of how and why hexagonal lattices are so strong. Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology succeeded. They obtained graphene in recent experiments, which turned out to be 5 percent denser and ten times stronger than metal, showing that this is possible even when a piece of composite is larger than a regular sheet of paper.
Using a high-precision computer model, the scientists 3D printed the two-atom cubes as a spongy material and then subjected them to compression tests. In these tests, shape plays an incredibly important role. The cube itself looks like a purple sponge. Its porous structure indicates a large surface area, which increases strength while maintaining a low weight.
Perhaps most interestingly, the different cubes reacted in unexpectedly different ways. For example, a cube with thicker walls and folds was found to be less resistant to collapse when more pressure was applied. Unlike cubes with a thinner structure, which collapsed gradually, retaining their shape almost to the end, this one collapsed instantly, like in an explosion.
Scientists say this is because the thinner walls deform gradually, while the thicker ones accumulate deformation energy, which then leads to an instant collapse. This suggests that in addition to the structure of the material, its shape is important to ensure strength.
“You can replace the material with something else,” says one of the MIT specialists. "Geometry is the dominant factor."
Where can it be applied? You can coat the polymer or metal particles with graphene and then remove the base material after thermo-force curing. As a result, a light and superstrong graphene structure remains. The researchers believe the material could be used in concrete bridge construction, in water filtration systems, or in chemical treatment equipment.
Sergey Lukavsky