How Are Graphene Coatings Made?

How Are Graphene Coatings Made?

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What is Graphene?

Graphene is graphite (Carbon) that has been processed to construct a one atom thick layer. This one atom thick layer is made up of carbon atoms arranged in a honeycomb lattice pattern that forms a nearly transparent sheet with some incredible properties. At a molecular level, it is 200 times stronger than steel, yet six times lighter and flexible.

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TO PUT THINGS IN PERSPECTIVE
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Graphene is so thin that turned sideways it would be nearly invisible.

 

 

How is a Graphene Coating made?

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Graphene is Chemically Inert (On it's own, NOT usable in a functional coating).

You must be thinking… “Graphene sounds amazing!! Why doesn't everyone just put graphene on their cars?”

Graphene on its own cannot form a coating, it is chemically inert and non-reactive so it must be processed in a very specific way that can enable it to form a coating that can adhere it to a finish. (1)

OK THEN, HOW DO YOU MAKE GRAPHENE INTO A COATING?

We “oxidize” it! Through our chemical manufacturing process, we refine Graphene into a product called “Graphene Oxide”.

Remember the Zinc Oxide your mom used to make you wear in the summertime? It’s sorta like that. It's a substance known as a “Metal Oxide” that essentially means we bond oxygen molecules, hydroxy molecules and other elements to it (This is a very important step).

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GRAPHENE OXIDE (GO) – ADDING OXYGEN TO THE GRAPHENE

This Graphene Oxide (GO) is now a one atom thick layer of carbon atoms, but we’re not done yet.

We take this Graphene Oxide and further refine it, removing impurities and adding on more molecules that we can then use to attach to a vehicles finish.

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REDUCED GRAPHENE OXIDE (RGO) – TAKING AWAY ATOMS TO MAKE IT USABLE IN A COATING

Now that we have a specially designed reduced Graphene Oxide (rGO) with just the right atoms added and removed. We now have a monomer (Single) layer with the right attachments we can use to then fasten it to a finish.

See all of those beautiful little Hydroxy molecules attached to it? We use those like velcro to stick it onto your paint, wheels, glass, plastics etc. with some incredible results!

1: Eftekhari, A.; Garcia, H. (2017). "The Necessity of Structural Irregularities for the Chemical Applications of Graphene". Materials Today Chemistry. 4: 1–16. doi:10.1016/j.mtchem.2017.02.003.

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