Effects of using aqueous graphene on behavior and mechanical performance of cement-based composites

This paper presents the results of an investigation into aqueous graphene (AG) in Portland cement (PC) mortars for the first time. The investigation found that AG can be used to replace powdered pristine graphene nano-platelets (PG) in PC mortar. AG has fewer agglomerates than PG thus, AG not only has lower manufacturing and carbon costs compared to PG, it is also shown to outperform PG in improving the compressive strength of PC. Using AG increases cement gel nucleation seeding and prolongs PC hydration thereby improving the content and morphology of the hydration products with the resulting compressive strength of AG mortar samples being about 13 % higher than PG mortar samples (70 vs 62 MPa).

Automated summary

This paper presents the results of an investigation into the application of aqueous graphene in Portland cement mortars. It is found that aqueous graphene can replace powdered pristine graphene nano-platelets in PC mortar. Compared to pristine graphene, aqueous graphene has fewer agglomerates, resulting in lower manufacturing and carbon costs and improved compressive strength of PC. The use of aqueous graphene enhances cement gel nucleation seeding and prolongs PC hydration, improving the content and morphology of hydration products.