Physicists accidentally discover explosive way to make graphene

Silicon Republic ^ | January 26, 2017 | Colm Gorey

[2ndDivisionVet]

Creating a fake “nuclear winter” to reflect back sunlight?

[HandyDandy]

I can remember sparking-off the oxy/acetylene cutting/heating torch and seeing the black smoke when the mixture was off, till you adjusted it. Also when the flame would shutoff while you tried to get the mix just right, small black pieces of snaky “smoke” would float away. An old timer told me, “never breath that stuff it’s pure carbon”. I wonder if it was actually graphene.

[Pete from Shawnee Mission]

Link to you tube of Aerogel

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5sw1tNeJ0Rw

carbon aerogel

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pmHHcwDTyg8

[fella]

So that hard to wash off carbon that got on me while rebuilding engines was really graphene?

[Don W]

Ever set off a perfectly balanced mix of welding gas and oxygen

Yup, many times for halloween. Get the cutting torch set just so, "pop" the flame out and fill several balloons. Toss into small fire. Much mirth and laughter following the kaboom.

[TXnMA]

"Ever set off a perfectly balanced mix of welding gas and oxygen? "

~~~~~~~~~

LOL!! Over 50 years ago, I worked on a big inch gas pipeline across New Mexico. Every morning, we had to clear out the critters that had taken refuge for the night inside pipe joints to be welded.

The welders would take an oxy-acetylene cutting torch and flood one end of a section with the right mixture, then step aside and light it off -- producing a resounding "POOM!".

At the other end, you'd see smoking rattlesnakes, jackrabbits, and kangaroo rats tumbling out across the desert... '-)

Nowadays, they call that a "FAE"...

[itsahoot]

awesome flames shooting out the back of the tailpipes at the same time. A twofer.

I remember those in the early 50s.

[itsahoot]

“Umm...what the heck are carbon soot aerosol gels used for?”

Ron PoPeal used that to hide bald spots.

[itsahoot]

At the other end, you'd see smoking rattlesnakes, jackrabbits, and kangaroo rats tumbling out across the desert... '-)

Gophenator 😀

[jonno]

Is it just me, or is there some contradictions in the last few paragraphs? Is it cost effective or not?

“The simplicity of production and low cost makes it a real candidate for increasing its scale for production purposes because typical ‘cooking’ processes that use mineral graphite and chemicals result in a far lengthier process.

This cooking method is also far more energy intensive, potentially dangerous and lower yielding than could be deemed practical for a manufacturer to take on.

Sorensen said: “What might be the best property of all is that the energy required to make a gram of graphene through our process is much less than other processes, because all it takes is a single spark.”

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

I wouldn’t want to ignite 17 liters of oxygen and acetylene at home. So maybe it isn’t quite for “everyone.”

Where is your scientific curiosity?

Where is your sense of adventure?

Where did my garage go?

[GOPJ]

Where is your scientific curiosity? Where is your sense of adventure? Where did my garage go?

LOL

[TXnMA]

BRAVO! Glad you remembered my comment about the pipeline!!

That slo-mo is a cool lead-in to how the gas device is rigged -- and lots of videos of explosions ripping up multi-yards of gopher tunnels.

I have 3 acres mowed and gopher-riddled, and I know a guy who just loves pyrotechnics.. .

Could be a lovely match... '-)

Thank you!!!

[editor-surveyor]

.
>> “Where is your scientific curiosity?” <<

Went up in smoke a long time ago.