Using Additive Processing to Harness and Implement Graphene Technology for Wear and Corrosion Protection

Abstract

Graphene emerged as new wonder material in 2004 when it was isolated and resulted in the awarding of a Nobel Prize. In the nearly two decades since its discovery research has advanced graphene technology to the point of technological maturation for numerous applications, including as a promising structural reinforcement, anti-wear and low friction material, and as a diffusion barrier. Graphene has been shown to be biocompatible and poses no cytotoxicity hazards, thus making it a green and eco-friendly additive. Being a purely carbonaceous material makes it biodegradable, so that long term issues with waste generation and disposal should not exist. It is imperative that the Navy evaluate this promising and maturing technology for use in naval applications. The time is ripe to transition graphene technology to naval applications that could benefit from enhanced resistance to wear and corrosion. Additive manufacturing is a converging technology that could enable graphene materials to be quickly transitioned and implemented into the Navy fleet as either new coatings or components. The additive processes of fused deposition modeling and cold spraying will be evaluated here to determine whether graphene infused polymer and metallic materials can be implemented to provide protection from wear and corrosion. Graphene infused materials will be 3D printed and deposited as coatings to evaluate wear resistance and resistance to salt fog and UV exposure. The source of graphene will be graphene nanoplatelets, which are commercially available at less than $1000/kg. Salt fog chamber testing, humidity and UV exposure testing, and wear tests will be conducted and analyzed to evaluate the efficacy of graphene infused materials for provided wear and corrosion protection. Analysis will be used to provide recommendations on the viability of harnessing and implemented graphene technology in the field for protection of ground vehicles and naval vessels from wear and corrosion.