EFFECT OF INTERCALATION OF GRAPHENE ON THE STRENGTH OF CONCRETE

Under the guidance of

M.PADMAKAR
ASST PROFESSOR, HOD –CIVIL

Dr. SUBASH CHANDRA

ASST. PROFESSOR

TYPE: TESTING &ANALYSIS

AREA: STRUCTURAL & TRANSPORTATION.ENGINNERING
Presented by
23CE22
Regd. No. Name No. of meetings
20L35A0113 N. Swetha Sri 20
20L35A0121 A. Lokeswara Rao 18
19L31A01D8 N. Renuka 18
20L35A0172 T. Sai 15
TOTAL MEETINGS:
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ABSTRACT

The effect of adding graphene oxide (GO) to cement on its microstructure and mechanical strength
was investigated. The review is to find the advantages of GO as a reinforcement in cement
composite whether it is more effective in controlling crack development and propagation at the
nano scale level in contrast to conventional reinforcement. In this project we investigate the
various chemical and mechanical properties of GO incorporated high strength self-compacting
concrete. The resulting graphene-reinforced concrete is stronger, more durable, and more resistant
to cracking and deformation than traditional concrete. GO is added to cement at 0.02, 0.04, 0.06,
0.08% by powder and serum form to determine the achievement of high strength self-compacting
concrete. The results showed that the compressive strength of the concrete increased with
increasing rGO concentration, with the highest strength observed at a concentration of 0.08%. The
researchers also found that the addition of rGO improved the concrete's toughness, ductility, and
resistance to cracking.

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PROBLEM STATEMENT

• Over the past years, cement composites infilled with graphene have been continuously
reported to exhibit remarkable enhancement on the mechanical properties summarizes the
experimental results gathered from previous studies for the improvement of graphene to the
mechanical properties of the cement composites.
• there are several challenges associated with the use of graphene in cement. One of the main
challenges is the difficulty of uniformly dispersing graphene in cement due to its high surface
area and strong van der Waals forces. Additionally, the high cost of graphene can make it
difficult to produce cost- effective graphene-cement composites.
• By improving the durability and lifespan of concrete, adding graphene can reduce the need
for frequent repairs and replacements, which can ultimately reduce the environmental impact
of construction and infrastructure projects.
• This paper mainly focuses at rendering an in depth evaluation on the results of reinforcement
and mechanisms of Graphene addition on cement composites by referring a group.

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OBJECTIVE

EFFECT OF INTERCALATION OF GRAPHENE ON THE

STRENGTH OF CONCRETE

• Development of Graphene-Cement composite as a cement replacing material for

the development of ultra-high-performance concrete by replacing the cement

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INTRODUCTION

Graphene is one of the strongest materials known to man, with a tensile strength over 100 times
greater than that of steel. This property makes graphene an excellent candidate for use in
structural applications such as aircraft and spacecraft . Graphene was first isolated and
characterized in 2004 by Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov, who were awarded the Nobel
Prize in Physics in 2010 for their work. Since then, graphene has been the subject of intense
research, and numerous studies have been conducted to explore its properties and potential
applications.
Graphene nanoparticles have unique properties due to their high surface area to volume ratio,
which leads to enhanced reactivity, improved mechanical properties, and increased electrical and
thermal conductivity. The properties of graphene nanoparticles are influenced by various factors
such as their size, shape, and degree of oxidation. Graphene nanoparticles can be synthesized
using a variety of methods, including mechanical exfoliation, chemical vapor deposition, and
chemical reduction.

Fig. 1 Graphene powder

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Graphene nanoparticles were solved in distilled water, ultrasonicated for two hours and the
dispersion state of the suspension was observed after 12 hr of holding time will be added to the
concrete mix in amount of 0.02, 0.04, 0.06, 0.08% and then the cubes had been casted. Similarly,
the concrete mix is added with graphene powder for an amount of 0.02, 0.04, 0.06, 0.08% and
cubes had been casted and after a duration of 28 days the cubes were been removed form the
moulds and the compression test had been conducted to the specimen.

Fig.2 Ultrasonicator Fig.3 Graphene Oxide Solution

Fig. 4 Graphene Powder

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METHODOLOGY
1. Material preparation: The concrete mix is prepared by combining cement, sand, aggregate, and water in the
appropriate proportions. Graphene, in the form of graphene oxide solution, and powder is added to the mix at
a specific concentration using 0.02, 0.04, 0.06, 0.08% by weight of cement and mixed thoroughly as show in
the Fig4. Add the required amount of water and mix the concrete thoroughly until it is homogeneous .

Fig. 4 Addition of Graphene Powder in cement

2. Prepare the graphene dispersion: Disperse the graphene uniformly in water using a dispersing agent, if
necessary. The amount of graphene added should be less than 1% by weight of cement. Mix the graphene
dispersion thoroughly to ensure that it is uniformly dispersed.
3. Add the graphene dispersion to the concrete mix: Slowly add the graphene dispersion to the concrete mix
while it is being mixed. Ensure that the graphene dispersion is added uniformly throughout the mix. Avoid
adding the graphene dispersion all at once, as this can result in clumping or uneven distribution.
4. Cast the concrete cubes: Pour the concrete mix into cube molds, ensuring that the molds are completely filled.
Compact the concrete using a vibration table or compaction rod to remove any air pockets and ensure the
concrete is evenly distributed in the mold. After 24 hours, remove the cubes from the molds and continue the
curing process for a minimum of 27 days. Later, the cubes were tested
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 0.02%
0.04%

0.06%
0.08%

METHODOLOGY CHART

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EXPERIMENTAL TESTS

Compressive Strength test

• Once the concrete specimens have been cured, they can be tested for compressive strength using a compression testing
machine. The machine applies a compressive force on the specimens until they fail, and the maximum compressive load that
the specimens can withstand is recorded.

• The test involves applying a compressive load to a cylindrical or cube-shaped specimen of the concrete until it fails. The
maximum compressive load that the specimen can withstand before failure is recorded as the compressive strength of the
concrete. To test the effect of graphene, concrete samples with and without graphene can be prepared and subjected to
compressive strength tests. The results can be compared to see if the addition of graphene has improved the strength of the
concrete as shown in the Fig5.

Fig. 5 UCS Machine

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COMPRESSION TEST RESULTS

 
TABLE- 1 53 GRADES CONCRETE CUBES (M30)

DATE OF   DATE OF   COMPRESSIV

MOULD DATE OF PLACED IN DATE OF E STRENGTH
PLACED OPENE CURING REMOVE (N/mm2)
D TANK D

14-7-2022 15-7-2022 15-7-2022 21-7- 22.44

2022
14-7-2022 15-7-2022 15-7-2022 8-11- 31.11
2022
 
TABLE- 2 53 GRADES GRAPHENE(POWDER) CONCRETE CUBES (M30)

  DAT   DATE   COMPRESSIVE

GRAPHEN E DATE OF DATE OF STRENGTH
E OF OF PLACED REMOVE (N/mm2)
% MO OPENE IN D
ULD D CURING
PLA TANK
CED

0.02 05-11- 06-11- 06-11- 02-12- 10.84

2022 2022 2022 2022
0.04 05-11- 06-11- 06-11- 02-12- 19.2
2022 2022 2022 2022
0.06 05-11- 06-11- 06-11- 02-12- 11.82
2022 2022 2022 2022
0.08 04-11- 06-11- 06-11- 02-12- 25.56
2022 2022 2022 2022

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TABLE- 3  
53 GRADES GRAPHENE(SERUM) CONCRETE CUBES (M30)

  DATE OF   DATE OF   COMPRESSIVE

GRAPHENE MOULD DATE OF PLACED IN DATE OF STRENGTH
% PLACED OPENED CURING REMOVED (N/mm2)
TANK

0.02 25-8-2022 26-8-2022 26-8-2022 23-9-2022 15.11

0.04 25-8-2022 26-8-2022 26-8-2022 23-9-2022 14.67

0.06 25-8-2022 26-8-2022 26-8-2022 23-9-2022 17.06

0.08 25-8-2022 26-8-2022 26-8-2022 23-9-2022 10.75

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 GRAPH 1 – COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH BETWEEN GRAPHENE SERUM AND POWDER

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GRAPH 2 – COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH BETWEEN TRADITIONAL CONCRETE CUBES &
GRAPHENE SERUM

35
Normal Concrete Cubes CS graph Graphene added concrete cubes
31.11
30
26.83 30
25 24.48
22.44 21.56 25

20 20

15 15 13.15 13.42
11.6
10 10

5
5
0
0 0.02% 0.04% 0.06% 0.08%
sample 1 sample 2 sample 3 sample 4

Normal Concrete Cubes Compressive Strength Grephene serum added concrete compressive strength

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GRAPH 2 – COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH BETWEEN TRADITIONAL CONCRETE CUBES &
GRAPHENE POWDER

Normal Concrete Cubes CS graph Graphene added concrete cubes

35 30
31.11
25.56
30
26.83 25

25
22.44 21.56 20 19.2
20
15
15 11.82
10.84
10
10

5 5

0 0
sample 1 sample 2 sample 3 sample 4 0.02% 0.04% 0.06% 0.08%

Normal Concrete Cubes Compressive Strength Grephene powder added compressive strength

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REFERENCES

1. Devi, S. C., and R. A. Khan. "Effect of graphene oxide on mechanical and durability
performance of concrete." Journal of Building Engineering 27 (2020): 101007.
2. Devasena, M., and J. Karthikeyan. "Investigation on strength properties of graphene oxide
concrete." Int. J. Eng. Sci. Invent. Res. Dev 1 (2015): 307-310.
3. Devi, Sanglakpam Chiranjiakumari, and Rizwan Ahmad Khan. "Compressive strength and
durability behavior of graphene oxide reinforced concrete composites containing recycled
concrete aggregate." Journal of Building Engineering 32 (2020): 101800.
4. Mohammed, A., et al. "Incorporating graphene oxide in cement composites: A study of
transport properties." Construction and Building Materials 84 (2015): 341-347.
5. Konios, Dimitrios, et al. "Dispersion behaviour of graphene oxide and reduced graphene
oxide." Journal of colloid and interface science 430 (2014): 108-112.

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