Researchers from Monash University and Rice University say they have findings that could change the standards in anti-corrosion coating development by using extremely thin graphene films. The films are so thin, the human cannot see it, but it has been shown to make copper close to 100 times more resistant to corrosion.
Graphene is a thin layer of carbon atoms that is already used on things such as smartphone screens. The primary experimenter for the study said the graphene had exceptional mechanical properties and great strength. The polymer coatings that are commonly used on metal can be scratched off, whereas graphene is much harder to damage.
The process is still in the laboratory testing stage, but the group working on the project is looking into applying the graphene to different metals, as well as investigating easier applications that would simplify production.