In January 2017, the world's lightest mechanical watch was successfully manufactured in Geneva, Switzerland. This high-tech watch uses the latest research results of graphene composite materials. The research results behind this project have now been published. This unique precision mechanical watch is the result of a collaboration between the University of Manchester, Richard Mille Watches and McLaren Applied Technologies.
The RM 50-03 watch uses a unique graphene composite material. The new case made of this material is strong and lightweight. The total weight including the strap is only 40 grams, making it the lightest mechanical chronograph in the history of horology.
RM 50-03 mechanical watch
This collaboration is an excellent engineering practice. Researchers have explored ways to properly arrange graphene in composite materials. In the end, they can take full advantage of the highest mechanical stiffness and strength properties of two-dimensional materials, while avoiding the addition of other heavier materials.
Now, the study of this unique watch has been published in the journal Applied Science and Manufacturing: ("Realising the Theoretical Stiffness of Graphene in Composites through confinement between Carbon Fibres "). This work was mainly done by researchers at the National Graphene Institute at the University of Manchester.
Professor Robert Young, who led the study, said: "In this study, the mechanical properties of composites were significantly improved by adding a small amount of graphene to the matrix and unidirectionally reinforcing carbon fibers."
This could have a significant impact on the future of the precision engineering industry, where strength, stiffness, and product weight are often the focus of attention in the aerospace and automotive industries.
A small amount of graphene is added to the carbon fiber composite material in order to improve the rigidity of the overall material and reduce the weight by using less material. Because of its high stiffness and strength, graphene has shown great potential as a reinforcement in polymer composites, which can further improve the mechanical properties of composites.
The end result is that adding 2% of graphene to epoxy resin greatly enhances mechanical properties. Then the obtained graphene and carbon fiber composites were analyzed by tensile test, and the mechanism was revealed by Raman spectroscopy and X-ray CT scanning.
The results of this study show that this simple method can be adopted by existing industrial processes, allowing the engineering industry to benefit from the mechanical properties of graphene, such as the manufacture of aircraft wings or the production of high-performance car bodies.
The study found that compared with the carbon fiber equivalent sample, the addition of graphene significantly improved the tensile stiffness and strength. This happened when graphene was dispersed in the material and aligned with the fiber direction.
Dr. Zheling Li, research assistant at the University of Manchester, said: "This study proposes a way to increase the axial stiffness and strength of composites through simple conventional processing, and we also clarify the mechanisms behind this reinforcement."
"This project is a perfect example of a shift from university research to product technology. The collaboration with McLaren Applied Technologies has allowed graphene-reinforced composites to spread widely in industrial applications. This collaboration is for us," said Mille's R & D Manager, Richard Mille. Of customers provided the lightest watch: RM50-03. "
Dr Broderick Coburn, senior mechanical design engineer at McLaren Applied Technologies, said: "The potential for graphene to enhance the structural properties of composites is well known, and we have proven it on a laboratory scale for some time. This application is a great example After a series of processing, the prepreg material becomes a real product. "
The University of Manchester will soon celebrate the establishment of the second world-class graphene facility, the Graphene Engineering Innovation Center (GEIC). GEIC will allow industrial staff and academic experts to work together, transform research into product prototypes for production, and ultimately accelerate the commercialization of graphene.