Graphene Guitars?

[SpruceTop]

If it's even possible, how long before a Graphene guitar is developed and appears on the market? It would likely have to be constructed of formed layers of Graphene or Graphene/Carbon Fiber Composite to give some mass and structure to the instrument but I wonder how light in weight the guitar would be and what kind of tones it would produce? The first graphene guitars would likely be priced beyond all but the wealthiest of players.

Graphene is a crystalline allotrope of carbon with 2-dimensional properties. Its carbon atoms are densely packed in a regular atomic-scale chicken wire (hexagonal) pattern.

Uses: Potential graphene applications include lightweight, thin, flexible, yet durable display screens, electric circuits, and solar cells, as well as various medical, chemical and industrial processes enhanced or enabled by the use of new graphene materials.

Structural material -
Graphene's strength, stiffness and lightness suggested it for use with carbon fiber. Graphene has been used as a reinforcing agent to improve the mechanical properties of biodegradable polymeric nanocomposites for engineering bone tissue

Sound transducers -
Graphene's light weight provides relatively good frequency response, suggesting uses in electrostatic audio speakers and microphones. In 2015 an ultrasonic microphone and speaker were demonstrated that could operate at frequencies from 20 Hz-500 kHz. The speaker operated at a claimed 99% efficiency with a flat frequency response across the audible range. One application was as a radio replacement for long-distance communications, given sound's ability to penetrate steel and water, unlike radio waves.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potent...nd_transducers

[sirwhale]

I know a small bit about graphene, being a science teacher (a biology specialist). I'd like to know how they can turn it into a composite, how the layers are laid out and what matrix they use. Would they even need a matrix?

I hadn't thought about it in this context before your post, but yes, I'm sure it could have some interesting properties. I'm also sure that it's a bit off yet.

Supposedly just a single layer is extremely strong, but what are the comparisons? Compared with a the same number of atoms of steel? That much steel wouldn't be too strong either. So how many layers of graphene do you need? If layering graphene with graphene surely you'd just end up with graphite, which is the most stable allotrope of carbon (even diamond, over millions of years, converts to graphite). So maybe a matrix will be necessary to isolate the layers...

How would we put a bridge on it? How wound we glue it to the back and sides? I'm not sure how flexible it is, like carbon fibres are when putting them in a mould.

Maybe a CF body, graphene top. I'm almost certain that it would be transparent, but not sure as the layers are built up with a matrix.

You mentioned about using graphene for producing ultrasound. It appears to be very good at producing these frequencies, which would then pose the problem of damping in guitars. I know that Joe at Blackbird uses Kevlar to damp the vibrations in CF, what would be needed in graphene?

Update
Ok so, I did some more research which gave me this: It is about 100 times stronger than the strongest steel with a hypothetical thickness of 3.35Å which is equal to the thickness of the graphene sheet.

[Doubleneck]

Why would you need to? Don't need further strength, and I assume it would have to be combined with other materials to make it sound warmer? Though a transparent guitar would be cool.

[sirwhale]

I think the idea is the strength to weight ratio, meaning the top could be extremely light weight, stiff and good for vibrating.

Could Graphene be used in an injection mold?