Extra-Low Dosage Graphene Oxide Cementitious Nanocomposites: A Nano- to Macroscale Approach
Mehdi Chougan,
Francesca Romana Lamastra,
Eleonora Bolli,
Daniela Caschera,
Saulius Kaciulis,
Claudia Mazzuca,
Giampiero Montesperelli,
Seyed Hamidreza Ghaffar,
Mazen J. Al-Kheetan,
Alessandra Bianco
Affiliations
Mehdi Chougan
Dipartimento di Ingegneria dell’Impresa “Mario Lucertini”, Università degli Studi di Roma “Tor Vergata” and Consorzio INSTM Unità di Ricerca “Roma Tor Vergata”, Via del Politecnico, 00133 Roma, Italy
Francesca Romana Lamastra
Dipartimento di Ingegneria dell’Impresa “Mario Lucertini”, Università degli Studi di Roma “Tor Vergata” and Consorzio INSTM Unità di Ricerca “Roma Tor Vergata”, Via del Politecnico, 00133 Roma, Italy
Eleonora Bolli
Istituto per lo Studio dei Materiali Nanostrutturati, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (ISMN-CNR), Via Salaria Km 29.300, Monterotondo, 00015 Roma, Italy
Daniela Caschera
Istituto per lo Studio dei Materiali Nanostrutturati, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (ISMN-CNR), Via Salaria Km 29.300, Monterotondo, 00015 Roma, Italy
Saulius Kaciulis
Istituto per lo Studio dei Materiali Nanostrutturati, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (ISMN-CNR), Via Salaria Km 29.300, Monterotondo, 00015 Roma, Italy
Claudia Mazzuca
Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Chimiche, Università degli Studi di Roma “Tor Vergata”, Via della Ricerca Scientifica, 00133 Roma, Italy
Giampiero Montesperelli
Dipartimento di Ingegneria dell’Impresa “Mario Lucertini”, Università degli Studi di Roma “Tor Vergata” and Consorzio INSTM Unità di Ricerca “Roma Tor Vergata”, Via del Politecnico, 00133 Roma, Italy
Seyed Hamidreza Ghaffar
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Brunel University London, Uxbridge UB8 3PH, Middlesex, UK
Mazen J. Al-Kheetan
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, College of Engineering, Mutah University, Mutah, P.O. Box 7, Karak 61710, Jordan
Alessandra Bianco
Dipartimento di Ingegneria dell’Impresa “Mario Lucertini”, Università degli Studi di Roma “Tor Vergata” and Consorzio INSTM Unità di Ricerca “Roma Tor Vergata”, Via del Politecnico, 00133 Roma, Italy
The impact of extra-low dosage (0.01% by weight of cement) Graphene Oxide (GO) on the properties of fresh and hardened nanocomposites was assessed. The use of a minimum amount of 2-D nanofiller would minimize costs and sustainability issues, therefore encouraging the market uptake of nanoengineered cement-based materials. GO was characterized by X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), and Raman spectroscopy. GO consisted of stacked sheets up to 600 nm × 800 nm wide and 2 nm thick, oxygen content 31 at%. The impact of GO on the fresh admixtures was evaluated by rheology, flowability, and workability measurements. GO-modified samples were characterized by density measurements, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) analysis, and compression and bending tests. Permeability was investigated using the boiling-water saturation technique, salt ponding test, and Initial Surface Absorption Test (ISAT). At 28 days, GO-nanocomposite exhibited increased density (+14%), improved compressive and flexural strength (+29% and +13%, respectively), and decreased permeability compared to the control sample. The strengthening effect dominated over the adverse effects associated with the worsening of the fresh properties; reduced permeability was mainly attributed to the refining of the pore network induced by the presence of GO.
