Enhancement of Concrete Microstructure using Graphene Oxide as a Cement Additive: An Experimental Study

Abstract

The current study investigates the effect of graphene oxide (GO) on the mechanical properties of standard concrete. To compare, conventional concrete was designed to attain a compressive strength of 30 MPa, and GO was added to create graphene oxide concrete. The workability and compressive strength of various concrete mixtures were evaluated. The best mixture, GC2 (0.2% GO), demonstrated a compressive strength of 42 MPa and a flexural strength of 6.0 MPa after 28 days of curing. Additional analysis of GC2 using SEM, EDAX, and XRD revealed a more compact microstructure of hydration products. The results of this study suggest that graphene oxide (GO) enhances the mechanical properties of concrete.