Experimental investigations on the impact of graphene-based oxides in concrete

Abstract

The main aim of this study is to determine and analyze the properties of concrete, which are incorporated with graphene oxide (GO) and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) with standard concrete. Concrete has been made with varying proportions of GO and rGO by replacing cement; four mixes were prepared with GO (0.06%) and rGO (0.01%,0.02%,0.03%, and 0.04%). GO is synthesized in the laboratory using a modified Hummer method, and its purity was checked using XRD. The GO and rGO were dispersed at different dosages by volume of water followed by magnetic stirring and ultra-sonication, and they were oven dried for 48 h. The strength of GO-rGO concrete has been investigated. The result shows an 18%, 29%, and 20% increase in compressive, tensile, and flexural strengths, respectively, compared to the nominal mix concrete after 28 days. The mix with 0.02% rGO and 0.06% GO excelled with a significant increase over other mixes. The electrical conductivity of the concrete increased with the increase in the percentage of rGO. Compared with the nominal mix, it has a 67%, 70%, and 77% rise in saturated, naturally dried, and oven-dried curing conditions.