The science behind the world’s lightest graphene watch

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The new report details the collaboration between Richard Mille, McLaren and the National Graphene Institute

In January 2017, the world’s lightest mechanical chronograph was unveiled in Geneva, Switzerland, demonstrating the development of innovative composite materials using graphene.

The research behind the project has now been published. This unique precision design watch is the result of a collaboration between Manchester University, Richard Mille Watches and McLaren Applied.

The RM 50-03 watch is made of a unique graphene composite material. The strong and lightweight new case houses the watch device, and the total weight including the strap is only 40 grams.

This cooperation is an excellent project to explore the correct arrangement of graphene in composite materials to make full use of the highest performance of the mechanical stiffness and strength of the two-dimensional material without adding other heavier materials.

Now, the research behind this unique fake watch has been published in the “Composite Materials Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing” magazine. This work was mainly carried out by a team of researchers from the National Graphene Institute at the University of Manchester.

Professor Robert Young, who led the research, said: “In this work, the mechanical properties of unidirectional reinforced carbon fiber composites have been significantly enhanced by adding only a small amount of graphene to the matrix.

“This may have a future impact on the precision engineering industry, where strength, rigidity and product weight are key issues such as aerospace and automotive.”

Adding a small amount of graphene to the carbon fiber composite material aims to improve stiffness and reduce weight by reducing the overall material usage. Because graphene has high stiffness and strength, its use as a reinforcing material for polymer composites shows great potential for further improving the mechanical properties of composite materials.

The end result is that only 2% by weight of graphene is added to the epoxy resin. The graphene and carbon fiber composite materials obtained are then analyzed through tensile testing, and the mechanism is mainly revealed by using Raman spectroscopy and X-ray CT scanning.

The benefits of this research demonstrate a simple method that can be incorporated into existing industrial processes, enabling the engineering industry to benefit from the mechanical properties of graphene, such as the manufacture of airplane wings or the body of high-performance cars. Richard Mille cheap

The research team found that the addition of graphene significantly improved tensile stiffness and strength compared with carbon fiber equivalent samples. This happens when graphene is dispersed in the material and aligned along the fiber direction.

Dr. Zheling Li, a researcher at the University of Manchester, said: “This study proposes a method to improve the axial stiffness and strength of composite materials through simple conventional processing methods, and clarifies the mechanism that leads to this enhancement.”

Richard Mille’s Aurèle Vuilleumier R&D Manager said: “This project is a perfect example of technology transfer from university to product. The collaboration with McLaren Applied allows graphene-reinforced composites to spread widely in the industry. As a tangible result, for our The customer provided a world record light and robust watch: RM 50-03.”

Dr. Broderick Coburn, senior mechanical design engineer at McLaren Applied, said: “The potential of graphene to enhance the structural properties of composites has been known and has been proven on a laboratory scale for some time. Although this application is niche, it is a A good example. These structural advantages make it a prepreg and then into the actual product.”

The University of Manchester will soon celebrate the opening of its second world-class graphene facility, the Graphene Engineering Innovation Center (GEIC), which will open later this year. GEIC will allow the industry to work with academic expertise, transform research into prototypes and trial production, and accelerate the commercialization of graphene. https://www.moonphase-watch.com

Patek Philippe-Ref. 6002R-001 Sky Moon Tourbillon Haut Artisanat

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After we launched the Reference 5374G three-question perpetual calendar yesterday, today we focus on introducing another timepiece in the “rare handicrafts” series launched by Patek Philippe this week, the Haut Artisanat Ref. 6002R-001.

Ref. was launched in 2001. The 5002 Sky Moon Tourbillon remains Patek Philippe’s second-complex watch and one of the most respected large-scale complications by collectors.

From 2013 to 2016, two more versions were created: a white gold case with blue enamel dial (6002G-001) and a white gold case with black enamel (6002G-010).

In the latest version of this double-sided watch, the warm tones of rose gold complement the brown Grand Feu enamel.

The periphery of the dial, the moon phase window and the moon on the rotating disc are all made of hollow enamel. Through this technique, the gold dial is hollowed out by hand according to the selected contour, and then the groove is filled with enamel compound by hand. Between each coating, the dial is fired at an extremely high temperature of 850°C.

The center of the dial is decorated with grand flame cloisonné enamel, made of thin flat gold thread.

The 44 mm x 17.35 mm case, crown, chime rail and folding clasp are all hand-engraved with volutes and arabesque patterns. It takes more than 100 hours of working time to complete this process.

The Sky Moon Tourbillon combines 12 complications, including a tourbillon and a minute repeater that strikes the cathedral gong. On the front dial, we found a perpetual calendar with retrograde date, moon phase display and leap year cycle.

On the other hand, we have an amazing picture of the celestial body: three overlapping discs move on different, accurately calculated trajectories to reproduce the apparent motion of the moon and stars as seen from the northern hemisphere.

The manual winding Calibre R TO 27 QR SID LUCL composed of 705 parts beats at a frequency of 3 Hz (21,600 vibrations per hour) and has a power reserve of 38 to 48 hours. The watch is moisture-proof and dust-proof, but not waterproof.

Replace reference. The new Patek Philippe Ref. 6002G-010 in white gold, with a black Grand Feu enamel dial. 6002R-001 Sky Moon Tourbillon Haut Artisanat comes with a pair of hand-carved rose gold cufflinks.