Social Impacts
iPhone 5 [4]
Positive
There are a number of uses in today's society for graphene, some that one would never have really thought about. An example of this would be how graphene is used as the circular top of a Coca-Cola bottle to prevent bacterial growth [7]. In a medical health aspect this would be of great importance; this also connects graphene to its future use in curing diseases such as cancer with accuracy. The goal is to be able to adapt antigen structure so that they can use the antigen to understand the bodies way of identifying familiar or foreign cellular tissues that exhibit mutations. This could change the face of medical technology forever by allowing more effective ways of targeting cancer cells, therefore increasing possibility of becoming cured [7].
The material is also used in warfare to create the hazmat suits used when diffusing a bomb; the durable material increases survival rate it bomb were to go off [7].
Negative
Having very little knowledge of this material and still using it to benefit ourselves, could result in endangering the human population. In warfare graphene is used to create stronger and more powerful weapons; not only will this potentially harm soldiers, it could harm civilians as well. Creating weapons of this power could initiate a new era of weaponry putting the human race in greater danger [7].
Having this being a new product, graphene will be very expensive and only available to the wealthier; this would result in social disparity because not everyone will be able to afford this new technology [7].
There are a number of uses in today's society for graphene, some that one would never have really thought about. An example of this would be how graphene is used as the circular top of a Coca-Cola bottle to prevent bacterial growth [7]. In a medical health aspect this would be of great importance; this also connects graphene to its future use in curing diseases such as cancer with accuracy. The goal is to be able to adapt antigen structure so that they can use the antigen to understand the bodies way of identifying familiar or foreign cellular tissues that exhibit mutations. This could change the face of medical technology forever by allowing more effective ways of targeting cancer cells, therefore increasing possibility of becoming cured [7].
The material is also used in warfare to create the hazmat suits used when diffusing a bomb; the durable material increases survival rate it bomb were to go off [7].
Negative
Having very little knowledge of this material and still using it to benefit ourselves, could result in endangering the human population. In warfare graphene is used to create stronger and more powerful weapons; not only will this potentially harm soldiers, it could harm civilians as well. Creating weapons of this power could initiate a new era of weaponry putting the human race in greater danger [7].
Having this being a new product, graphene will be very expensive and only available to the wealthier; this would result in social disparity because not everyone will be able to afford this new technology [7].
Economical Impacts
Production of ITO Conductive Material [6]
Positive
When the numerous ideas and possibilities surrounding graphene become a reality, the economy will benefit from the new technology and global recognition. The discovery of graphene has since created a lot of jobs for people in the research and engineering fields to create actual uses for graphene. The demand for this product will begin to create a new industry surrounding the manufacturing of graphene producing more efficient products using the material [5]. Also in the medical aspect, graphene has opened up new possibilities on curing disease with greater accuracy. In turn this will create a whole new pharmaceutical strand of medications containing graphene [8].
Negative
Since graphene is so small it takes a lot of time and money to be able to produce a useable quantity. The research dedicated to graphene also requires substantial amounts of funding for materials and equipment for testing. The large costs associated with this new material could negatively affect the economy if no significant information or profit is produced from the well-funded research [5]. Before the manufacturing of graphene, ITO (indium tin oxide) was used to perform the same applications as the nanomaterial. Due to the production of graphene, which is a "better version" of ITO, the price of ITO has drastically increased from $100/kg to $1000/kg. This was done so that some profit could be made off the ITO before the manufacturing of graphene took over the industry. Before ITO had no major competitor, but since graphene was developed as a more flexible and 90% more transparent with less electrical resistance, it was the obvious alternative [5].
When the numerous ideas and possibilities surrounding graphene become a reality, the economy will benefit from the new technology and global recognition. The discovery of graphene has since created a lot of jobs for people in the research and engineering fields to create actual uses for graphene. The demand for this product will begin to create a new industry surrounding the manufacturing of graphene producing more efficient products using the material [5]. Also in the medical aspect, graphene has opened up new possibilities on curing disease with greater accuracy. In turn this will create a whole new pharmaceutical strand of medications containing graphene [8].
Negative
Since graphene is so small it takes a lot of time and money to be able to produce a useable quantity. The research dedicated to graphene also requires substantial amounts of funding for materials and equipment for testing. The large costs associated with this new material could negatively affect the economy if no significant information or profit is produced from the well-funded research [5]. Before the manufacturing of graphene, ITO (indium tin oxide) was used to perform the same applications as the nanomaterial. Due to the production of graphene, which is a "better version" of ITO, the price of ITO has drastically increased from $100/kg to $1000/kg. This was done so that some profit could be made off the ITO before the manufacturing of graphene took over the industry. Before ITO had no major competitor, but since graphene was developed as a more flexible and 90% more transparent with less electrical resistance, it was the obvious alternative [5].
Environmental Impacts
Wind Turbine [2]
Positive
One of the uses of graphene is in graphene coatings to decrease the weathering effects of salt and UV rays on them so they last longer. When these materials, used in airplanes and wind turbine blades, last longer, they don't need to be replaced as often which reduced the amount of waste and helps the environment [1].
Since graphene is so strong, materials made from it, used to build airplanes and wind turbines, can be used in smaller amounts to achieve the same level of strength as materials made from other substances. Reducing the weight of airplanes allows them to fly while burning less gasoline, which is better for the environment [1]. If wind turbines are lighter they can be used to produce the same amount of energy with lighter winds. The conductive properties of graphene increase the efficiency of energy conversion in wind turbines [1].
Negative
Since graphene is just a very small layer of graphite, it is all natural and therefore does not have any major negative effects on the environment. Graphene is still a newly discovered material so the negative impacts on the environment have not all been discovered yet but studies are being done to test this [1].
Some possibilities of negative effects include reacting with other materials or biological systems in the environment, which is unpredictable, and graphene having any toxic properties that could be harmful to the environment [1]. Due to the fact that graphene is so small, a lot of work is required to produce it in larger amounts. The more uses that are found for graphene, the more energy will have to be used to produce greater amounts of it [1].
One of the uses of graphene is in graphene coatings to decrease the weathering effects of salt and UV rays on them so they last longer. When these materials, used in airplanes and wind turbine blades, last longer, they don't need to be replaced as often which reduced the amount of waste and helps the environment [1].
Since graphene is so strong, materials made from it, used to build airplanes and wind turbines, can be used in smaller amounts to achieve the same level of strength as materials made from other substances. Reducing the weight of airplanes allows them to fly while burning less gasoline, which is better for the environment [1]. If wind turbines are lighter they can be used to produce the same amount of energy with lighter winds. The conductive properties of graphene increase the efficiency of energy conversion in wind turbines [1].
Negative
Since graphene is just a very small layer of graphite, it is all natural and therefore does not have any major negative effects on the environment. Graphene is still a newly discovered material so the negative impacts on the environment have not all been discovered yet but studies are being done to test this [1].
Some possibilities of negative effects include reacting with other materials or biological systems in the environment, which is unpredictable, and graphene having any toxic properties that could be harmful to the environment [1]. Due to the fact that graphene is so small, a lot of work is required to produce it in larger amounts. The more uses that are found for graphene, the more energy will have to be used to produce greater amounts of it [1].
Works Cited
1 B. Zhang, H.Misak, P.S. Dhanasekaran, Dr. D. Kalla and Dr. R. Asmatulu. Environmental Impacts of Nanotechnology and Its Products. Fairmount, Wichita: Wichita State
University, 2011. Web.
2 Global Wind Group. Is Bigger Really Better? 2012. Web. 7 December 2012. <http://www.globalwindgroup.com/>.4 "Graphite." N.d. Photograph. China Suppliers. 9 Oct.
2012. Web. 9 Dec. 2012. <http://image.made-in-china.com/43f34j00mSztBqanLrbJ/Alloy-Furnace-Use-Graphite-Electrode-Paste-Carbon-Electrode-Paste.jpg>.
3 Graphite. N.d. Photograph. China Suppliers. 9 Oct. 2012. Web. 9 Dec. 2012. <http://image.made-in-china.com/43f34j00mSztBqanLrbJ/Alloy-Furnace-Use-Graphite-
Electrode-Paste-Carbon-Electrode-Paste.jpg>.
4 iPhone 5. N.d. Photograph. CNET. 24 Nov. 2012. Web. 9 Dec. 2012. <http://www.cnet.com/iphone-5/>.
5 Neto, A. H., and K. Novoselov. "Two-Dimensional Crystals: Beyond Graphene." Materials Express 1.1 (2011): 10-17.
6 Production of ITO Conductive Material. N.d. Photograph. China Suppliers. 9 Nov. 2009. Web. 9 Dec. 2012. <http://image.made-in-china.com/2f0j00TenaJARsrWcH/
Magnetron-Sputtering-Production-Line-for-ITO-Conductive-Glass-TS-CJLX-CJLW-.jpg>.
7 Qaiyum, Amer A. "RESEARCH PAPER BASED ON PATHOLOGY LECTURES AT MEDLINK 2010."
8 Yang, Xiaoying, et al. "Superparamagnetic graphene oxide–Fe3O4 nanoparticles hybrid for controlled targeted drug carriers." J. Mater. Chem. 19.18 (2009): 2710-2714.
University, 2011. Web.
2 Global Wind Group. Is Bigger Really Better? 2012. Web. 7 December 2012. <http://www.globalwindgroup.com/>.4 "Graphite." N.d. Photograph. China Suppliers. 9 Oct.
2012. Web. 9 Dec. 2012. <http://image.made-in-china.com/43f34j00mSztBqanLrbJ/Alloy-Furnace-Use-Graphite-Electrode-Paste-Carbon-Electrode-Paste.jpg>.
3 Graphite. N.d. Photograph. China Suppliers. 9 Oct. 2012. Web. 9 Dec. 2012. <http://image.made-in-china.com/43f34j00mSztBqanLrbJ/Alloy-Furnace-Use-Graphite-
Electrode-Paste-Carbon-Electrode-Paste.jpg>.
4 iPhone 5. N.d. Photograph. CNET. 24 Nov. 2012. Web. 9 Dec. 2012. <http://www.cnet.com/iphone-5/>.
5 Neto, A. H., and K. Novoselov. "Two-Dimensional Crystals: Beyond Graphene." Materials Express 1.1 (2011): 10-17.
6 Production of ITO Conductive Material. N.d. Photograph. China Suppliers. 9 Nov. 2009. Web. 9 Dec. 2012. <http://image.made-in-china.com/2f0j00TenaJARsrWcH/
Magnetron-Sputtering-Production-Line-for-ITO-Conductive-Glass-TS-CJLX-CJLW-.jpg>.
7 Qaiyum, Amer A. "RESEARCH PAPER BASED ON PATHOLOGY LECTURES AT MEDLINK 2010."
8 Yang, Xiaoying, et al. "Superparamagnetic graphene oxide–Fe3O4 nanoparticles hybrid for controlled targeted drug carriers." J. Mater. Chem. 19.18 (2009): 2710-2714.
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