a Team of researchers from mit have developed one of the most durable and lightweight materials of our time, by compressing and fusing the flakes of graphene, the two-dimensional form of carbon. The new substance has a spongy structure, which, when the comparative density is only 5% stronger than steel by 10 times.
Graphene is known as one of the most durable of two-dimensional materials, but until now researchers did not know how to transfer these properties into three-dimensional structures. New research shows that the main factor of the strength of the new material is its unusual three-dimensional configuration, which suggests that in the future scientists will be able to develop more durable materials, using the structure of the same geometric principles.
Scientists have long been working in this direction, however, the laboratory experiments are in practice often not consistent with theory and other research groups could not get enough of solid construction. The MIT team conducted an analysis down to the atomic structure of matter, whereby it has been able to reconstruct almost the ideal model. Two-dimensional materials possess not only high strength and unique conductive properties, but because of its subtlety can not be used when, for example, the construction of buildings or the creation of large electrical apparatus. However, physicists have been able to squeeze small flakes of graphene by using high pressure and heat. The result is a stable, very sturdy structure that looks like coral or microscopic algae and diatoms. The secret of its strength is the huge surface area on which the load will be distributed.
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