Experimental investigation into graphene’s effects on the mechanical properties of cement mortar under specific sonication parameters

Abstract

Abstract Graphene and its derivatives have been studied as nanomaterials in many different fields owing to their various interesting properties. Many researchers have investigated the mechanical properties of different graphene cementitious composites, and the current study investigates the effect on the mechanical properties of cement mortar of adding graphene with and without the use of an ultrasonic homogeniser. To examine this effect, all other testing conditions and requirements such as mix design content, mixing procedure, curing time, specimen size and sonication parameters were maintained at the same levels across tests. Cement mortar specimens containing different percentages of graphene (0, 0.003, 0.006, 0.009, 0.012 and 0.03% by weight of cement) were experimentally tested after 7 and 28 days to determine the effect of graphene dosage on their quasi-static strengths. The results showed an obvious enhancement in both compressive and flexural strengths after adding each graphene dosage to the mix without sonication; the compressive strength was increased by 12% with a 0.006% dose of graphene and the flexural strength was increased by 27% at a 0.009% dose of graphene. On using the sonicator at the specified parameters, the compressive strength increased by 33% for the 0.006% dose of graphene, offering an increment of 20% in strength due to the sonication effect; however, there was no noticeable effect on the flexural strength.