Posted on 01/26/2017 1:15:03 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
It seems that on a monthly basis, there is a new development in the speed and quality of graphene production, be it with copper substrates, or using it to create the strongest material known to humankind.
Yet despite these regular developments, little progress has been made in producing the so-called wonder material faster and cheaper to the point that it can be mass-produced.
However, the latest development from Kansas State University (KSU) is certainly taking graphene to a new, explosive level of development.
Unlike current production methods that rely on large industrial-scale equipment, the KSU team led by Prof Chris Sorensen has found an ingenious way to create graphene in a small 17-litre container.
Once the chamber is filled with a combination of oxygen and either acetylene or ethylene gas, a spark plug from any type of vehicle is used to create a contained explosion within the chamber.
It is then just a matter of collecting the graphene that forms afterward, which is created by the detonation of carbon-containing material.
(VIDEO-AT-LINK)
The researchers first stumbled on this production method when they were developing and patenting carbon soot aerosol gels.
By following the same process of detonating explosive gases in the aluminium chamber, Sorensen and his team found that the resulting soot looked like “black angel food cake”.
This resulting soot may have looked like black angel food cake, but it was actually clumps of graphene, with Sorensen admitting that they got lucky.
‘All it takes is a single spark’
The simplicity of production and low cost makes it a real candidate for increasing its scale for production purposes because typical ‘cooking’ processes that use mineral graphite and chemicals result in a far lengthier process.
This cooking method is also far more energy intensive, potentially dangerous and lower yielding than could be deemed practical for a manufacturer to take on.
Sorensen said: “What might be the best property of all is that the energy required to make a gram of graphene through our process is much less than other processes, because all it takes is a single spark.”
Unsurprisingly, Sorensen and the rest of his KSU research team have patented the discovery, and will now spend the coming months improving the quality and yield of graphene, but also finding a way to create the material in a matter of seconds, rather than minutes.
Creating a fake “nuclear winter” to reflect back sunlight?
I can remember sparking-off the oxy/acetylene cutting/heating torch and seeing the black smoke when the mixture was off, till you adjusted it. Also when the flame would shutoff while you tried to get the mix just right, small black pieces of snaky “smoke” would float away. An old timer told me, “never breath that stuff it’s pure carbon”. I wonder if it was actually graphene.
Link to you tube of Aerogel
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5sw1tNeJ0Rw
carbon aerogel
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pmHHcwDTyg8
So that hard to wash off carbon that got on me while rebuilding engines was really graphene?
Yup, many times for halloween. Get the cutting torch set just so, "pop" the flame out and fill several balloons. Toss into small fire. Much mirth and laughter following the kaboom.
~~~~~~~~~
LOL!! Over 50 years ago, I worked on a big inch gas pipeline across New Mexico. Every morning, we had to clear out the critters that had taken refuge for the night inside pipe joints to be welded.
The welders would take an oxy-acetylene cutting torch and flood one end of a section with the right mixture, then step aside and light it off -- producing a resounding "POOM!".
At the other end, you'd see smoking rattlesnakes, jackrabbits, and kangaroo rats tumbling out across the desert... '-)
Nowadays, they call that a "FAE"...
I remember those in the early 50s.
Ron PoPeal used that to hide bald spots.
Is it just me, or is there some contradictions in the last few paragraphs? Is it cost effective or not?
“The simplicity of production and low cost makes it a real candidate for increasing its scale for production purposes because typical ‘cooking’ processes that use mineral graphite and chemicals result in a far lengthier process.
This cooking method is also far more energy intensive, potentially dangerous and lower yielding than could be deemed practical for a manufacturer to take on.
Sorensen said: “What might be the best property of all is that the energy required to make a gram of graphene through our process is much less than other processes, because all it takes is a single spark.”
Where is your scientific curiosity?
Where is your sense of adventure?
Where did my garage go?
LOL
That slo-mo is a cool lead-in to how the gas device is rigged -- and lots of videos of explosions ripping up multi-yards of gopher tunnels.
I have 3 acres mowed and gopher-riddled, and I know a guy who just loves pyrotechnics.. .
Could be a lovely match... '-)
Thank you!!!
.
>> “Where is your scientific curiosity?” <<
Went up in smoke a long time ago.
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