Effect of Graphene Oxide on compressive strength of Shale Ceramsite high strength lightweight aggregate concrete

Abstract

The use of shale ceramsite to produce high-strength lightweight concrete (HSLWC) in the construction industry is an effective method for sustainable development and environmental protection. The growing demand for HSLWC has stimulated the development of nanomaterials to further enhance mechanical properties. This study investigated the effect of graphene oxide (GO) on the properties of HSLWC with shale ceramsite as a coarse and fine aggregate, including workability, density, compressive strength, and energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS) test. The control mixture was designed according to the standard of grade 40 high strength concrete, and four groups of mixtures were prepared by adding doses of GO at 0.00%, 0.02%, 0.04% and 0.06% by weight of cement to the control mixture. The experimental results showed that HSLWC with the 28-day compressive in the range of 43-54 MPa and the oven dry density of 1705-1783 kg/m3 could be produced by using shale ceramsite and shale pottery sand as coarse aggregate and fine aggregate, respectively. Simultaneously, adding a low content of GO to HSLWC could slightly increase the density, rationally reduce the slump, and significantly enhance the compressive strength. The EDS results showed that the reason for the increase in compressive strength was that GO could accelerate the cement hydration process and regulate the crystal morphology of the cement.