Graphene could offer better solution for bullet proof jackets

Compared to steel, the stress tests found Graphene ten times better. In comparison to Kevlar, graphene sheets were twice better. Only issue was graphene was that the sheets were brittle. Same issue has been seen in carbon fiber as well but research teams have overcome that limitation.

The researchers used laser beam to superheat gold filaments. The filaments vaporized and helped fire micron-sized glass bullets on graphene sheets at 3,000 meters per second.



University of Massachusetts Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering researcher Jae-Hwang Lee said, “The ability of graphene to dissipate energy, the team explains, is due to a high degree of stiffness combined with low density, which means that energy can move through it very quickly, allowing for the dissipation of energy from something traveling as fast as a bullet.”

Graphene has flexibility and durability. Due to its honeycomb structure, conductivity and many other interesting properties, graphene can be used in electronics. The major bottleneck has been the issues with commercial production of graphene sheets. Research teams across the world are working on developing low cost solution for commercial production of graphene.

The detailed study results have been published in journal Science.    more thanClick for video