Process performance

Technology Performance of Graphene

Graphene is a two-dimensional material consisting entirely of pure carbon. It is a crystalline allotrope with a honeycomb or chicken wire lattice. It is the know thinnest material in the world, and one of the strongest. And its strength and atomic-scale thickness make graphene a fascinating material with an array of promising technological applications.

In terms of electrical properties, graphene has extraordinary long-distance linear electron mobility, meaning its electrons can travel long distances before they encounter obstacles. It has an electron mobility of 1500 cm2/Vs at room temperature, which is approximately 200 times greater than that of silicon. This allows electrons to move freely, making it a promising material for low-power electronic devices.

Graphene is remarkably strong for its size and weight. It has the highest strength-to-density ratio of any known material and it is incredibly stiff, with a Young’s modulus of 1 TPa. This makes it about 200 times stiffer than steel and almost 400 times stiffer than aluminum. Graphene’s stiffness also makes it challenging to fabricate because it doesn’t deform to allow fabrication.

Graphene is also an excellent conductor of heat and has an excellent thermal conductivity of 5300 W/mK. This is more than 500 times greater than the thermal conductivity of copper, making it the most thermally conductive known material. This makes it an excellent choice for heat-exchangers and thermal management.

Graphene also has a wide range of optical properties. It is a semi-transparent material that can absorb light, making it ideal for photodetectors and sensors. Due to its low energy band gap, it is able to detect a variety of different wavelengths, including near-infrared and visible light. For example, graphene photodetectors can detect a single photon and can operate at higher speeds than conventional photodetectors.

Graphene is one of the most promising materials for the development of a new generation of advanced technologies. Its extraordinary electrical, mechanical, and optical properties make it an ideal material for a wide range of applications from ultrafast electronics, to thermal management and sensing devices. With ongoing research and development, the number of potential graphene-based technologies and applications is likely to grow exponentially in the near future.

The process properties of a material refer to its physical, chemical and mechanical properties, and its ability to produce or process components. Process properties are important characteristics of materials and affect the final product quality, durability and cost.

Physical properties include density, strength, hardness, and electrical and thermal conductivity. These determine the shape and finish of the component that the material can produce and the working environment it can withstand.

Chemical properties refer to the reactivity of the material and its ability to resist corrosion. These properties determine the service environment the component can endure, as well as its lifetime requirements.

Mechanical properties affect the components ability to withstand stresses, such as compressive and tensile strength, ductility, plasticity and fatigue. These properties can determine the conditions and types of component formability and the tolerance of components during use.

Depending on the application a component might have, process properties are essential when designing components. They are important factors that can determine the cost, quality and durability of products. Without a thorough understanding and evaluation of the process properties of a material, the component may not be able to withstand its working environment or function properly, leading to a faulty end product.