Authors:
Saruk Mallick,Prasanna Kumar Acharya,DOI NO:
https://doi.org/10.26782/jmcms.2026.02.00007Keywords:
Mechanical characteristics,Graphene oxide,Acid resistance,Sulphate resistance,Microstructure,Abstract
This study investigated the influence of graphene oxide (GO) on enhancing the mechanical characteristics and microstructure of concrete made of slag cement. Concrete samples were made with and without GO, added in varying dosages from 0.01% to 0.1% by weight of cement. The mechanical performance of these specimens was evaluated through compressive, tensile, and flexural strength tests. The durability was checked through acid and sulphate attack tests. To ensure uniform dispersion of GO within the matrix, polycarboxylate ether-based superplasticizer was employed at a measure of 0.25% by weight of cement. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was conducted to observe the microstructural development, while energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and X-ray Diffraction (XRD) were used to check the composition of the elements of the GO-modified matrix and its contribution to concrete health. The study found that GO addition is beneficial in enhancing compressive, tensile, and flexural strength up to 61, 109, and 39% at 28 days in comparison with conventional concrete. The acid and sulphate resistance of GO-modified concrete was found to be 46% and 30% better than that of control concrete. The effect of GO up to 0.05% on the properties of concrete is found in an increasing trend. SEM analysis confirmed improved dispersion of GO and enhanced interfacial bonding with cement particles. The EDX and XRD analyses validated the macro-level results. These findings highlight the potential of GO as an effective nanomaterial for improving the performance of slag cement-based composites.Refference:
I. Acharya, P. K., and S. K. Patro. “Acid Resistance, Sulphate Resistance and Strength Properties of Concrete Containing Ferrochrome Ash (FA) and Lime.” Construction and Building Materials, vol. 120, 2016, pp. 241–250, 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2016.05.099.
II. Bureau of Indian Standards. IS 10262: Concrete Mix Proportioning – Guidelines. 2nd rev., BIS, 2019, New Delhi, India.
III. Bureau of Indian Standards. IS 383: Coarse and Fine Aggregate for Concrete – Specification. 3rd rev., BIS, 2016, New Delhi, India.
IV. Bureau of Indian Standards. IS 455: Portland Slag Cement – Specification. 5th rev., BIS, 2015, New Delhi, India.
V. Bureau of Indian Standards. IS 516 (Part 1/Section 1): Hardened Concrete – Methods of Test: Compressive, Flexural and Split Tensile Strength. BIS, 2021, New Delhi, India.
VI. Bureau of Indian Standards. IS 516 (Part 2/Section 2): Hardened Concrete – Methods of Test: Initial Surface Absorption. BIS, 2020, New Delhi, India.
VII. Bureau of Indian Standards. IS 5816: Method of Test for Splitting Tensile Strength of Concrete. BIS, 1999, reviewed 2018, New Delhi, India.
VIII. Chaipanich, A., et al. “Compressive Strength and Microstructure of Carbon Nanotubes–Fly Ash Cement Composites.” Materials Science and Engineering A, vol. 527, no. 4–5, 2010, pp. 1063–1067.
IX. Chuah, S., et al. “Nano Reinforced Cement and Concrete Composites and New Perspective from Graphene Oxide.” Construction and Building Materials, vol. 73, 2014, pp. 113–124.
X. Cwirzen, A., K. Habermehl-Cwirzen, and V. Penttala. “Surface Decoration of Carbon Nanotubes and Mechanical Properties of Cement/Carbon Nanotube Composites.” Advances in Cement Research, vol. 20, no. 2, 2008, pp. 65–73.
XI. Fu, K., et al. “Defunctionalization of Functionalized Carbon Nanotubes.” Nano Letters, vol. 1, no. 8, 2001, pp. 439–441.
XII. Gaitero, J. J., I. Campillo, and A. Guerrero. “Reduction of the Calcium Leaching Rate of Cement Paste by Addition of Silica Nanoparticles.” Cement and Concrete Research, vol. 38, no. 8–9, 2008, pp. 1112–1118.
XIII. Gholampour, A., et al. “From Graphene Oxide to Reduced Graphene Oxide: Impact on the Physiochemical and Mechanical Properties of Graphene-Cement Composites.” ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, vol. 9, no. 49, 2017, pp. 43275–43286.
XIV. Kang, D., et al. “Experimental Study on Mechanical Strength of GO–Cement Composites.” Construction and Building Materials, vol. 131, 2017, pp. 303–308.
XV. Keyvani, A. Huge Opportunities for Industry of Nanofibrous Concrete Technology. PhD thesis, Azarbaijan University of Tarbiat Moallem, 2007.
XVI. Konsta-Gdoutos, M. S., Z. S. Metaxa, and S. P. Shah. “Highly Dispersed Carbon Nanotube Reinforced Cement-Based Materials.” Cement and Concrete Research, vol. 40, no. 7, 2010, pp. 1052–1059.
XVII. Li, G. Y., P. M. Wang, and X. Zhao. “Mechanical Behavior and Microstructure of Cement Composites Incorporating Surface-Treated Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes.” Carbon, vol. 43, no. 6, 2005, pp. 1239–1245.
XVIII. Li, G. Y., P. M. Wang, and X. Zhao. “Pressure-Sensitive Properties and Microstructure of Carbon Nanotube Reinforced Cement Composites.” Cement and Concrete Composites, vol. 29, no. 5, 2007, pp. 377–382.
XIX. Li, H., et al. “Microstructure of Cement Mortar with Nanoparticles.” Composites Part B: Engineering, vol. 35, no. 2, 2004, pp. 185–189.
XX. Liu, J., et al. “Fracture Toughness Improvement of Multi-Wall Carbon Nanotubes/Graphene Sheets Reinforced Cement Paste.” Construction and Building Materials, vol. 200, 2019, pp. 530–538, 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2018.12.141.
XXI. Lv, S., et al. “Effect of GO Nanosheets on Shapes of Cement Hydration Crystals and Their Formation Process.” Construction and Building Materials, vol. 64, 2014, pp. 231–239.
XXII. Lv, S., et al. “Effect of Graphene Oxide Nanosheets on Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Cement Composites.” Construction and Building Materials, vol. 49, 2013, pp. 121–127.
XXIII. Lv, S. H., et al. “Study of Graphene Oxide Reinforced Toughened Cementitious Composites.” Functional Materials, vol. 44, no. 15, 2013, pp. 2227–2231.
XXIV. Lv, S. H., et al. “Toughening Effect and Mechanism of Graphene Oxide Nanoflakes on Cementitious Composites.” Journal of Composite Materials, vol. 31, no. 3, 2014, pp. 644–652.
XXV. Makar, J. “The Effect of SWCNT and Other Nanomaterials on Cement Hydration and Reinforcement.” Nanotechnology in Civil Infrastructure, edited by K. Gopalakrishnan et al., Springer, 2011, pp. 103–130.
XXVI. Nasibulin, A. G., et al. “A Novel Cement-Based Hybrid Material.” New Journal of Physics, vol. 11, 2009, article 023013.
XXVII. Pan, Z., et al. “Mechanical Properties and Microstructure of a Graphene Oxide–Cement Composite.” Cement and Concrete Composites, vol. 58, 2015, pp. 140–147.
XXVIII. Sáez de Ibarra, Y., et al. “Atomic Force Microscopy and Nanoindentation of Cement Pastes with Nanotube Dispersions.” Physica Status Solidi A, vol. 203, no. 6, 2006, pp. 1076–1081.
XXIX. Sanchez, F., and C. Ince. “Microstructure and Macroscopic Properties of Hybrid Carbon Nanofiber/Silica Fume Cement Composites.” Composites Science and Technology, vol. 69, no. 7–8, 2009, pp. 1310–1318.
XXX. Sedaghat, A., et al. “Investigation of Physical Properties of Graphene Cement Composite for Structural Applications.” Open Journal of Composite Materials, vol. 4, no. 1, 2014, pp. 12–21.
XXXI. Shah, S. P., et al. Highly Dispersed Carbon Nanotubes Reinforced Cement-Based Materials. United States Patent Application Publication No. US2009/0229494 A1, 2009.
XXXII. Shang, Y., et al. “Effect of Graphene Oxide on the Rheological Properties of Cement Pastes.” Construction and Building Materials, vol. 96, 2015, pp. 20–28.
XXXIII. Wang, M., et al. “Study on the Three-Dimensional Mechanism of Graphene Oxide Nanosheets Modified Cement.” Construction and Building Materials, vol. 126, 2016, pp. 730–739.
XXXIV. Wang, Z. M., and H. L. Zhang. “Study on the Mechanical Properties of Graphene Oxide Nanosheet Reinforced Cement-Based Composites.” Industrial Buildings, vol. 51, no. 2, 2021, pp. 153–161.