Effect of polycarboxylate superplasticiser content on the compressive strength of cement mortar containing graphene

Abstract

Graphene oxide (GO) has received great attention as a nanosized reinforcing agent in cement-based materials. However, GO easily aggregates in an alkaline cement matrix and suffers from poor dispersibility, which reduces the beneficial effect on the final properties of cement composites. This paper presents the effect of polycarboxylate superplasticizer addition method on the dispersion of graphene solution through compressive strength of cement mortar. The selected polycarboxylate to cement ratio varies from 0 to 4. The results show that polycarboxylate has a positive effect on the dispersion of graphene, the polycarboxylate content is optimal when polycarboxylate/cement = 4.

Keywords: Graphene oxide; polycarboxylate superplasticiser; strength; cement mortar.