University of Massachusetts-Amherst researchers have determined that graphene is twice as effective as traditional materials in bulletproof vests.
The research was completed by creating a small ballistics range, according to a study published on Friday in Science Magazine.
Since the team of researchers couldn't conduct their tests through normal methods, for example by using a gun barrel or gunpowder, they had to go with the next best thing.
Jae-Hwang Lee and his team fired micro bullets at the sheets of graphene that were between 10 and 100 layers thick. Each bullet was fired at speeds of over 6,700 mph, according to a press release about the news. They found graphene absorbs impact twice as well as kevlar, and is 10 times better at absorbing energy than steel.
Lee added that, by using electron microscopes, he and his team could observe the way in which graphene disperses energy. The material cracks in a number of directions after being stretched into a cone shape.
Studies show that graphene has an extraordinary elasticity and strength which lets the material absorb 8 to 10 times the impact that steel does.
While graphene absorbs more energy, the researchers determined that larger holes are created at the impact spot. They suggested in the study combining graphene with other materials to fight off any cracking issues.
Graphene is a one-atom-thick layer of carbon that shows up as a transparent sheet known for conducting electricity and heat.
Lee's research is the first time that graphene has been tested in extreme conditions, according to the press release.
Graphene has been tested a lot by scientists since being discovered back in 2004. Some researchers believe that it actually has the ability of withstanding the force of an elephant balancing on a pencil.
Another study published in Nature this month described how graphene sheets allow proton particles to pass through them, which could improve the efficiency of hydrogen fuel cells.
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