Graphite was introduced to us in the early days of writing
with a pencil. The graphite that can be written is in the pencil. The
pencil, which is the writing material that we use today, was invented about 200
years ago.
It was only after the discovery of graphite that the pencil
came into circulation. Graphite was discovered accidentally during mining in a
place called Cumberland in England.
When examined from a scientific perspective, graphite is
nothing but a substance called carbon. Graphite is found naturally as deposits
in rock crevices in some areas underground.
Graphite is also used in batteries, paints, lubricants, and
stationery. In 1970, graphite found a new use. Its use increased when new types
of materials called graphite composites were developed in the technical field.
Since these composites were lightweight and at the same time
very strong, they were widely used in spacecraft. The importance of this new
material research became even more apparent when space exploration gained
importance.
Graphite has now become an indispensable material,
participating in all fields such as aircraft parts, machine tools, automobiles,
medical devices, and musical instruments.
Reducing the weight of vehicles and aircraft, rockets, etc.
is not a simple matter. We need strong parts, but at the same time, we need to
reduce their weight, and only then will economic use increase.
Therefore, this can only be made possible by such new types
of materials. The more we think about materials, the more we can reduce costs
and create new types of devices. New types of materials can be created through
many types of metal alloys and composites.
An American has made graphite into thin fibres. According to
this researcher, he had already said that graphite is waiting to do many
miracles in the future.
Graphite composites are the only artificial ones created by man.
We know that diamond is an alternative form of coal. Like coal and diamond,
graphite is a material made of carbon atoms.
Graphite composites are obtained by bonding the atoms
together with strong adhesives in a suitable technological way. Now new types
of materials have high strength, and high hardness but are light in weight. These
properties increase the use of graphite composites.
Finding strong materials is very difficult because strong
materials are expensive and at the same time their weight increases. In terms
of space exploration, our journey is very long.
When the journeys are
long, we definitely need to reduce the difficulties. So the weight should be
light, but if such materials are used, the strength decreases, which can cause
huge problems in space travel.
It needs to be lightweight yet strong. Graphite composites
are useful for such needs, and if we think about and develop some composites,
we can make huge changes in space travel.
The best solution to such various problems is materials made
from composite materials because research on better materials will lead to
huge development.
As a result of the current scientific and technological
efforts, the price of graphite composites is expected to decrease significantly
in the future. Currently, graphite composites are widely used to make aircraft
parts and space equipment.
64 types of parts of the aircraft are constructed from them.
Aluminum is the lightest metal among the metals we know, while graphite is 30%
lighter. Using it reduces the design cost by 20 to 30%.
Due to its lightweight, aircraft fuel costs are greatly reduced. Graphite composites are also widely used in the satellite manufacturing sector.
If the use of a product increases, its price will also
increase. Therefore, it will not be available to everyone as it increases the
cost of transportation. This is why it is difficult to continuously conduct
various research if the costs of space research increase.
More research can be done only if the costs are reduced.
Similarly, the costs can be reduced while creating new meteors. Only then can
we travel on aeroplanes at an affordable price.
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Another characteristic of graphite composites is that they
are not affected by heat or cold. Therefore, these composite tools do not
change in their dimensions even when the temperature rises or falls. It does
not lengthen or shorten.
Since it is not affected by temperature variations, such
tools were installed in rockets sent to Mars. The experimenters used these
tools because they knew that weight reduction is more economical.
It was calculated that every kilogram of weight reduction
reduces the cost by 10 million dollars. This composite can be used to make
ordinary practical tools, not just aeroplanes and missiles.
Space travel in a rocket can create a lot more interest in
the entire human race than the interest in human travel in aeroplanes.
Aeroplane travel is interesting to the individual, but space
travel, even if a scientist travels in it somewhere, will allow the entire human race on Earth to learn about this universe.
Rocket travel is the dream journey of man. Materials like
graphite are very useful for the great scientific achievements that can make
such dreams come true.
Britain is currently at the forefront of making machine tools
with these. Many tools that were previously made of wood, etc. are now made of
new types of composites.
This not only reduces the weight of those tools but also
increases their working life by 10 times.
Tools for cleaning cotton in cotton gins are designed with these
graphite composites. The uses of graphite composites and their contribution to
scientific development are increasing day by day.
When any field of science grows, there is also the growth of
another field to support it. Generally, materials such as those needed in space
exploration are useful to us in other ways.
The tools and materials invented for that can create new
devices necessary for human life. Therefore, the growth of a particular field
of science will be useful for many fields.
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