Performance Evaluation of Cementitious Composites Incorporating Nano Graphite Platelets as Additive Carbon Material

Abstract

Nano graphite platelets (NGPs) belong to the carbon family and have a huge impact on the construction industry. NGPs are used as multi-functional fillers and have the potential to develop reinforcing within cementitious composites. In this paper, NGPs were incorporated in cementitious composites to investigate the effects of NGPs on the fresh, mechanical, durability, and microstructural properties of concrete. Five mixes were prepared with intrusion of NGPs (0%, 0.5%, 1.5%, 3%, and 5% by weight of cement). The properties studied involved workability, air content, hardened density, compressive strength, tensile strength, flexural strength, sorptivity, ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV), water absorption, and external sulfate attack. The workability and percent air content decrease by 22.5% and 33.8%, respectively, for concrete with 5% NGPs compared to the control mix. The specimens containing 5% of NGPs revealed the hardened density, compressive, tensile, and flexural strength to increase by 11.4%, 38.5%, 31.6%, and 44.34%, respectively, compared to the control mix. The results revealed that the incorporation of 5%NGPs in cementitious composites reduces the sorptivity and water absorption by 32.2% and 73.9%, respectively, whereas, it increases the UPV value by 7.5% compared to the control mix. Furthermore, the incorporation of NGPs provided better resistance against external sulfate attacks. SEM–EDX spectroscopy was carried out to investigate its microstructural analysis.

Transforming Conventional Construction Binders and Grouts into High-Performance Nanocarbon Binders and Grouts for Today’s Constructions

“…These increments are in line with other research in which GNP caused a higher bending strength in zirconium [7,45], ultra-high performance concrete [49], self-consolidating cementitious systems [8], concrete with E-waste plastic coarse aggregate [9], geopolymers [10], electrically conductive cementitious composites [11], concrete incorporating an iron-particle contained nanographite by-product [12], and other construction binder-based materials [13][14][15][16][17]. Additionally, the highest bending strength of the mortar composites was observed with the addition of 0.22% GNP, which is also in line with other existing results demonstrating better bending strength properties in highperformance cementitious composites with GNP addition [50]. Other authors evaluated the properties of an aluminum-magnesium-silica combined material modified through hybrid mixing and SiC powder [51].…”

“…Buildings 2022, 12, x FOR PEER REVIEW 15 of 21 [50]. Other authors evaluated the properties of an aluminum-magnesium-silica combined material modified through hybrid mixing and SiC powder [51].…”

Effect of Nanographite Conductive Concrete Mixed with Magnetite Sand Excited by Different Alkali Activators and Their Combinations on the Properties of Conductive Concrete

“…Moreover, driven by advanced nanotechnology, nanoscale carbon-based materials have attracted extensive attention due to their high electrical conductivity and multifunctional applications. The admixture of nanocarbon components can reduce the self-shrinkage of concrete at all ages and reduce the porosity of concrete [27,28]. This shows that the admixture of an appropriate amount of nanoscale carbon-based materials in concrete can improve both conductivity and strength [29].…”

Effects of Multidimensional Carbon-Based Nanomaterials on the Low-Carbon and High-Performance Cementitious Composites: A Critical Review

“…It is worth noting that research has also shown that cement mortar with the addition of NGPs has better acid resistance and durability. As shown in Figure 8, Farhan et al [151] prepared five mixes with the intrusion of NGPs (0%, 0.5%, 1.5%, 3%, and 5% by weight of cement) to study workability and mechanical properties. The compressive strength, tensile strength, and flexural strength of the sample containing 5% NGPs increased by 38.5%, 31.6%, and 44.34%, respectively.…”