Graphene & Silly Putty

spider walking detection

Cool! I wonder if it would work just as well with non-graphene forms of carbon which also conduct electricity; common graphite for instance? Old style telephone microphones were basically variable resistors that used carbon granules. Maybe this stuff could work as a microphone also?

Do you ever wonder what can't be done with graphene? My understanding of G-putty is that the thinness of the graphite conductor is key to creating a thin putty. Presumably another material with similar properties would work too.

So, if I have a silly putty monitor, if I fall flat on my face will I bounce right back upright?

Put it in your shoes and add some bounce to your step? Meanwhile the stuff could be the transducer for a Dr. Scholl's pedometer. Meanwhile on another thread they're using ABC gum for for literally gumboots. What will they think of next? New uses for 'spent' Skoal <graphic details omitted>.

You beat me to it -- I wrote this news post for Engineering 360 but you published first: http://insights.globalspec.com/article/3785/graphene-infused-silly-putty-for-medical-sensors

Sounds like one could also make an interesting strain gauge out of this? For example, one wants to know how much flexure a flat portion of Lexan might have against pressure applied under it, and somehow we mount this sensor in contact with the upper surface (rigid mount that would not impinge on the plastic).

Perhaps the pressure inside the device could be read off as well?

I'm wondering if very slow deflection (creep) could be measured?

I can see a rapid flexing being sensed.

A creep gauge, not a creep detector would be highly useful in engineering.

Creep detectors already exist, can be found deployed in many night spots.

From the article:"But if you pull it very, very slowly, it will flow as if it's a liquid, a viscous liquid," [with no induced stress]

Seems to me it's basically just a variable-cross-section carbon resistor. A carbon-impregnated elastomer might work just as well, especially for 'stationary' applications like strain sensing. At least you wouldn't have to put it back in its egg overnight.

It'll be interesting to see how many other areas of engineering will develop applications for G-putty. AMBER (Advanced Materials and BioEngineering Research), the institute sponsoring this research, has, as its name indicates, a focus on biomedical applications. The press release indicated that they are pursing commercialization, so this isn't a pie-in-the-sky, give us another three or four years to turn the idea into a product.

But don't look for any G-putty in your Christmas stocking .