+205 Its quite amazing that lead for a mechanical pencil can be manufactured in such huge quantities when it is such a weak material, amirite?

by Anonymous 12 years ago

It's graphite, which is a covalent network. Covalent networks are one of the strongest types of bonds.

by Anonymous 12 years ago

And yet, somehow graphene, which is produced from writing with a pencil, is one of the strongest substances scientists have discovered.

by Anonymous 12 years ago

Yeah I know graphite as a material is strong, I'm refering to how easily it can shear. If you were to hold the two ends of a piece of lead and bend them together it will shear with the smallest of forces. And somehow they make millions of pieces of this lead in huge machines in huge factories and would have to produce more than they'd break in production, otherwise it wouldn't be feasible, you know? Shits crazy.

by Anonymous 12 years ago

I have to wonder what led your thought process to this...

by Anonymous 12 years ago

This stuff interests me

by Anonymous 12 years ago