Materials science: Graphene takes on the fight against rust

Posted on July 31, 2015 by Nanthakumar Victor Emmanuel, P.Eng Leave a comment

Light, strong and thin, graphene can be used to build anything from airplanes to computer chips. Graphene is pure carbon in the form of a very thin, nearly transparent sheet, one atom thick. It is remarkably strong for its very low weight (100 times stronger than steel and it conducts heat and electricity with great efficiency

The latest idea is that a thin coating of graphene could provide excellent protection against rust and corrosion for large metal structures, such as oil rigs, tankers and bridges. Manchester University, where graphene was first isolated in 2004, and Akzo Nobel, the Amsterdam-based paints and coatings company, are investigating this application as part of a €1m partnership in corrosion research.