Dispersion of triethanolamine-functionalized graphene oxide (TEA-GO) in pore solution and its influence on hydration, mechanical behavior of cement composite

Re-aggregation of graphene oxide (GO) in cementitious solutions compromises the mechanical enhancement of cement composite. We chemically functionalized GO via triethanolamine (TEA), the removal of -C-O-C- groups on basal planes and the attachment of extra -OH groups on edges promoted its dispersibility during hydration and in cement paste. When incorporated into cement, TEA-GO provides more nucleation sites due to the better dispersion, further promoting the hydration degree. TEA-GO enhanced the compressive strength and flexural strength by 9.4-31% and 8.1-36.7% respectively, which was significantly higher than that of GO(4.1-17.2%; 7.8-20%). (C) 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.