By Ian D. Peggs – Geosynthetic materials and products continue their steady development, as additive packages and manufacturing technologies evolve. Today, however, is different. Today, we are truly on the verge of a significant leap in geosynthetic performance. The enabler? Graphene. That single layer of carbon atoms has a specific strength higher than steel. It is self-repairing and has higher electrical conductivity than copper. It is even impermeable to helium atoms! Nanogeocomposites are the wave of the future.
Though it is not directly related to geosynthetics, it is worth noting that the 2010 Nobel Prize in Physics was awarded to Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov for their research into graphene’s properties and utilization.
So, what would you like your geosynthetic to do that it presently cannot? What would raise performance to the next level (or further) for your projects? In example, graphene is already being incorporated into geotextile fibers to make them conductive for electrical leak location surveys. Bond the conductive geotextile to a geomembrane or geonet.
Your next level and out-of-the-box ideas and targets (confidential) are needed. Contact Dr. Ian D. Peggs, P.E., P.Eng at icorp@geosynthetic.com. These ideas will be forwarded to graphene manufacturing/processing specialists to expand this dialogue and help reach the next level of geosynthetic performance sooner.
ADVANTAGES OF GRAPHENE
To help further your thoughts, please keep in mind that graphene can improve:
- Thermal conductivity: heat removal
- Electrical conductivity: geomembranes, geotextiles, geogrids
- Hydrophilic performance
- Hydrophobic performance
- Antimicrobial performance: geotextile filter clogging prevention
- Strength with weight reduction
- Strength with ductility
- Sense: stress, temperature, moisture
- Water purification
- Precipitation from solutions
- De-watering
- Water stabilization
- Big data collection/interpretation
- Self-sealing in the presence of carbon.
Contact icorp@geosynthetic.com to get involved in this confidential conversation with the graphene field.
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Ian Peggs is President of I-CORP INTERNATIONAL, Inc., www.geosynthetic.com.
