Influence of Laboratory Synthesized Graphene Oxide on the Morphology and Properties of Cement Mortar

Abstract

The introduction of Graphene Oxide (GO), a nanomaterial, has shown considerable promise in improving the mechanical properties of cement composites. However, the reasons for this improvement are not yet fully understood and demand further research. This study aims to understand the effect of laboratory-produced GO, using Tour’s method, on the mechanical properties and morphology of cement mortar containing GO. The GO was characterized using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XRD), X-ray powder diffraction, and Raman spectroscopy alongside Scanning electron microscopy (SEM). This study adopted a cement mortar with GO percentages of 0.02, 0.025, 0.03, 0.035, and 0.04 with respect to the weight of the cement. The presence of GO in cement mortar increased the density and decreased the consistency and setting times. At the optimum of 0.03% GO viscous suspension, the mechanical properties such as the 28-day compressive strength, splitting tensile strength, and flexural strength were enhanced by 41%, 83%, and 43%, respectively. In addition, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller analysis indicates an increase in surface area and volume of micropores of GO cement mortar, resulting in a decreased volume of mesopores. The improvement in properties was due to increased nucleation sites, calcium silicate hydrate (CSH) density, and a decreased volume of mesopores.

An alternative raw material for Portland cement clinker preparation: Meta-schist

“…The main component of the cement paste, as well as the most critical factor affecting the strength of the hardening mass, is the phase indicated by the symbol C-S-H. As time progresses, the strength gained also increases with the increase of the C-S-H phase. The hydration and hardening mechanisms of cement are based on the density of the C-S-H gel with the addition of water and the crystallization of ettringite and calcium hydroxide intergrowths in the hardening cement paste and lling the pores in the hardening cement paste [29,30]. Microstructure images of cement samples are shown in Fig.…”