Unleashing the potential of advanced materials
WHAT IS THIS TECHNOLOGY AREA ALL ABOUT?
The wondermaterial graphene is an atom-thick layer of carbon which was awarded with the Nobel Prize in 2010. It has a number of extraordinary properties: graphene is transparent, impermeable to gases and moister, bendable, strong, super thin, electrically and thermally conductive.
HOW COULD THIS TECHNOLOGY BE APPLIED?
The startling properties of graphene could impose a variety of solutions for technical challanges like bendable transparent electronics including displays and batteries, multifunctional composites with thermal and electrical conductivity, high-performance sensors, barrier layers in packaging materials, biomedical electrodes, water purification, to mention a few. One specific area is multifunctional light composites that is of high interest for airplanes and other vehicles, where added functionality could be aniti-icing, heat dissipation, protection towards lightning and radiation, sensors, etc. Graphene is an emerging technology and it is most likely that the main impacts will be in the form of applications in other areas such as Life Science, Energy and ICT.
HOW COULD THIS TECHNOLOGY BE APPLIED TO THE DEFENSE SECTOR?
Possible product segments in the security and defense areas are:
- Lightweight electronics, displays and batteries;
- Signature management in IR region;
- Multifunctional composites – leightweight, anti-icing coating, protective coatings, sensors;
- Ultrafast and highly sensitive sensors;
- Lightweight vehicles;
- Protective equipment, ballistic vests.
