New Applications for a Graphene-Copper Alloy (15K USD in Prizes)

Mario HonrubiaRecent Challenges

After running a number of tests, a new Graphene-Copper alloy has proven to have some properties better than pure copper.

Can you provide ideas for new applications of this alloy? Read the challenge and submit your proposals! 

The Challenge: New Applications for a Graphene-Copper Alloy

Codelco is the first mining company in Chile and first world copper producer. Codelco Tech, its subsidiary for technological development, wants to encourage the use of copper by searching for new opportunities and uses.

A new Copper Graphene (G/Cu) nanocomposite alloy has been developed recently: the addition of 3% graphene to pure copper has proven to be an alloy that significantly improves the yield strength, tensile strength, and elastic modulus if compared to pure copper. Even though the electric conductivity decreases, the resulting material is still considered highly conductive.

 What the company is looking for

The goal of this challenge is to find ideas on potential and very specific applications in which the use of this new alloy translates into a technical/economic improvement compared to the currently used materials. The benefits must be justified correctly, technically or economically, in order for the solution to be evaluated.

 Evaluation criteria

The submissions will be assessed according to this criteria:
  • A very detailed specification of the application.
  • The new alloy must show an improvement in the performance compared to the currently used material.
  • Market potential: sectors, companies, volume…

 Timeline

This is a 1-round challenge:

1 Round: 6 weeks + 2 weeks for evaluation

Prizes

15,000 USD will be shared between a maximum of 3 ideas, the best of this competition. Join the challenge here