Effects of graphene oxide in enhancing the performance of concrete exposed to high-temperature

Abstract

Effects of incorporation of graphene oxide (GO) in normal and high strength concrete at high temperatures were experimentally investigated. The behaviour of concrete specimens was examined by comprehensive thermal analyses of heat transfer, residual mechanical strength, pore structure, mass loss and dilatometery. The results showed significant improvement of mechanical strength of the specimens with GO; the residual compressive strength was about 70% compared to 35% for the reference specimens. This can be attributed to the modification of pore structure of GO specimens, which increased gel porosity and reduced capillary porosity. Hence, thermal deformation of specimens with GO was compatible and shows no early negative expansion. As a result, better resistance for cracks was observed in GO mixes and led to maintaining the mechanical strengths. Effective anti-spalling behaviour was observed for GO high strength specimens, whereas the reference specimens exhibited high spalling. This could be due to the reinforcing effect of GO and the influence of GO on creating networks of micro channels that assisted in releasing the vapour pressure.