TELF AG explores the possible applications of the thinnest material in the world
The surprising properties of graphene
Among the materials that could dominate the future of humanity, a prominent place could go to graphene, which is currently the thinnest substance in the world. Its high conductive capacity and great flexibility have already made it one of the strongest and most resistant materials ever discovered. Over the last few years, its industrial applications have covered the most diverse sectors, finding space in electronics, nanotechnologies, batteries, and even fashion and design. This substance has also been successfully used in the manufacture of some specific sports equipment, such as skis, helmets, or sneakers, and the number of its possible industrial applications seems inevitably destined to grow as the years pass.
One of these – undoubtedly one of the most interesting – could have to do with increasing security in space. Last year, a first experiment in this sense was conducted by the United Arab Emirates, which sent a tiny half-meter-tall robot to the moon in order to test the effectiveness of a set of graphene-based materials in solving some problems of safety in space. One of these has to do with regolith, a sort of very abrasive lunar dust that could prove dangerous for the health of astronauts and for the functioning of their equipment. Knowing the structural characteristics of graphene, and its extremely interesting properties, it has in fact been hypothesized that graphene-based materials can guarantee a much higher level of protection than that offered by other materials.
An excellent ally for safety in space
On the wheels of this small space rover, which landed near the Atlas crater, a compound based on graphene and other polymers was applied which will come into direct contact with the lunar surface, allowing scientists to study the reaction of the regolith. In its terrestrial applications, graphene is used in several types of composites, paints and roofing due to its high mechanical and thermal capabilities, and it is believed that these superior characteristics can also be employed with some degree of success in space.
Lunar regolith represents a severe problem not only for the health of astronauts but also for the tightness of space suits, living environments, hermetic seals, and electronic circuits, where it could suddenly slip in and cause rather severe damage. The United Arab Emirates experiment, in this sense, also aims to test graphene and other advanced polymers for creating new space homes, new seals for suits or innovative protection systems for the circuits used in space technologies.
But the possible applications of graphene in space are not limited to security purposes: this material could also be used to help cool satellites. In fact, when they are exposed to the sun, satellites tend to heat up very quickly, making it necessary to transfer heat from one side to the other. The idea is to use graphene to facilitate the evaporation process with which heat exchange occurs, but also to increase capillary pressure and the efficiency of the pumps that will make this process possible.
