The influence of graphene admixture on strength properties of cement-based composites

Cement-based composites pose a long tradition in the construction industry and are used in various forms such as structural concretes, masonry and plaster mortars, injection and special mixtures for three-dimensional concrete printing. Fine granular composites intended for injection and printing activities may have increased tend to shrinkage and cracking. The application of nanomaterials may bring a partial solution to toughening of cement-based composites. For this reason, the effect of the addition of various amounts of graphene admixture up to 0.03 wt.% on the strength properties of fine granular cement-based composites was researched. All prepared fresh mixes had the constant w/c ratio, and the behavior of modified composites was compared with plain reference material. On hardened test specimens, compressive strengths obtained after 1, 7 and 28 days of curing time were evaluated. The experimental investigation revealed, on the one hand, the partial worsening of workability of fresh mixes being compensated with an increasing amount of a superplasticizer and, on the other hand, the increment of compressive strength up to 12.5 % even for specimens with the lowest addition of graphene.