Decomposition of complex interactions in graphene oxide-superplasticizer-cement composites and proposed guidelines for sample preparation and assessment

Abstract

Despite the recognized potential of graphene oxide (GO) in reinforcing and functionalizing cement composites, the commercialization of GO-incorporated cement composites still faces enormous challenges due to the huge variation on reported performance improvement among existing research. This phenomenon is largely attributed to the complex interactions in the GO-superplasticizer-cement system and the absence of standardized guidelines for sample preparation and performance assessment. To address these concerns, this study thoroughly designs a series of cement composites to decompose the ternary interaction with in-depth comparative analyses. Based on the results of workability and compressive strength, an interaction mechanism within the GO-superplasticizer-cement system is proposed and subsequently cross-validated. In addition, reinforcement efficiencies for each scenario are systemically assessed and summarized, effectively covering the majority of cases outlined in the prevailing literature. Accordingly, guidelines for sample preparation and evaluation in research related to GO-incorporated cement composites are developed.