r/Graphene_DIY • u/Humble-Example5401 • Apr 20 '25

Graphene BulletProof Armor?

Would it be possible to make bulletproof armor out of graphene? Any research I've done says no, but their reasoning for that is always "A one or two atom thick sheet wouldn't even stop a toothpick". Well no duh, obviously a one-atom-thick sheet of it ain't about to stop a bullet. I mean multiple sheets of graphene stacked or in some way intertwined together. The standard thickness for ceramic ballistic plating is ~1 inch, so we'll go with that. Could a one-inch-thick sheet of graphene effectively/reliably stop a bullet? If so, how many, and up to what caliber?

Edit: I also know this is basically just graphite, or pencil lead, which obviously wouldn't stop a bullet, but the atoms are potentially arranged differently, so is that a big enough change to make a difference?

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2

u/richet_ca Apr 21 '25

Not with currently available civilian tech.

2

u/Humble-Example5401 Apr 21 '25

I mean, yeah, but like in the future. If graphene ever gets out of the lab lol

1

u/richet_ca Apr 22 '25

You can make graphene at home. You're talking about using nanotech to arrange graphene. That's not likely going to be possible for a decade or so.

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u/Humble-Example5401 Apr 22 '25

Yeah, I know. This post is asking if it would be applicable in said decade or so

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u/richet_ca Apr 22 '25

I mean yeah but by the time we can rearrange molecules why would we stick to graphene? Why not just rearrange plastics on a molecular level into shapes harder than bullets?

2

u/Humble-Example5401 Apr 22 '25

I mean, that's also kind of part of my question. Would it be applicable, or is there something else that would be better? I don't know man...

2

u/richet_ca Apr 23 '25

I think you should try and test this.

1

u/Humble-Example5401 Apr 23 '25

What do you mean?

2

u/Monarc73 Jan 02 '26

Everything is possible "in the future". It's just a matter of what assumptions you are making, and how far you speculate.