Graphene concrete: Recent advances in production methods, performance properties, environmental impact and economic viability

Abstract

Concrete, foundational in modern construction, grapples with environmental concerns and performance limitations. Responding to this, this review unravels the potential of graphene-infused concrete. The techniques of integrating graphene into concrete, targeting the discovery of groundbreaking construction materials were systematically probe. Some studies highlight remarkable improvements: adding 0.03% graphene oxide (GO) bolstered concrete's flexural strength by over 40%, and a concentration of 0.05% GO optimized flexural strength by roughly 35%. Impressively, some studies showcased an elevation of up to 79.5% in flexural strength. Notably, incorporating just 0.01–0.1% graphene by weight can amplify compressive strength, flexural strength, and elastic modulus by over 100%. Parallelly, the environmental footprints of graphene's synthesis and its fusion into concrete, illuminating prospects for significant carbon emission curtailments and enhanced sustainability were scrutinized. On the economic front, while graphene concrete currently costs 5–10 times more than its conventional counterpart, its superior attributes suggest promising long-term cost benefits. Conclusively, this review findings spotlight graphene-augmented concrete as pivotal for a sustainable, economically sound, and high-caliber construction future.

Keywords

• Graphene concrete
• Graphene oxide
• Mechanical
• Durability
• Economic
• Sustainability