Graphene is actually a single layer of graphite, which is stronger (200 times stronger than steel) and has excellent electrical conductivity. According to foreign media reports, Ford announced that it will use graphene under the hood of passenger cars such as Ford F-150 pickup trucks and Ford Mustang.
In collaboration with Eagle Industries and XG Sciences, Ford has proposed a method that will use graphene materials in more than a dozen engine compartment components such as fuel rail covers, pump covers and front engine covers. Graphene is very thin, but very flexible, and has very strong sound insulation properties. It will be mixed with foam to form new parts that are excellent in strength and noise reduction.
Tests show that compared to the same foam material without any graphene content, Ford's graphene-containing foam material can reduce noise by 17%, improve mechanical properties by 20%, heat resistance by 30%, and most importantly, contain Graphene's material does not add weight to the part.
Although the addition of a lid to a component usually increases weight, thereby impairing the fuel economy of the car, graphene has light weight properties, and in fact, it reduces the weight of the overall component. Debbie Mielewski, Ford's Senior Technology Leader for Sustainable Development and Emerging Materials, said: "The breakthrough we made is not in the material itself, but in how we use the material. We use very small amounts, less than 0.5% of graphene Significantly improves component durability, noise reduction and weight reduction. "
Ford said that by the end of this year, the new graphene material will be used in the production of engine compartment components for the Ford F-150 and Ford Mustang models, and then it will be expanded to other models in the Ford passenger car lineup.