Investigation of Physical Properties of Graphene-Cement Composite for Structural Applications
Affiliation(s)
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of South Florida, Tampa, USA. Nanotechnology Research and Education Center, Clean Energy Research Center, University of South Florida, Tampa, USA. Department of Chemical & Biomedi- cal Engineering, University of South Florida, Tampa, USA.
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of South Florida, Tampa, USA. Nanotechnology Research and Education Center, Clean Energy Research Center, University of South Florida, Tampa, USA. Department of Chemical & Biomedi- cal Engineering, University of South Florida, Tampa, USA.
ABSTRACT
The hydration
of cement generates heat due to the exothermic nature of the hydration process.
Poor heat dissipation in mass concrete results in a temperature gradient
between the inner core and the outer surface of the element. High temperature
gradients generate tensile stresses that may exceed the tensile strength of
concrete thus leading to thermal cracking. The present paper is an attempt to understand the thermal (heat
sink property) and microstructural changes in the hydrated graphene-Portland
cement composites. Thermal diffusivity and electrical conductivity of the
hydrated graphene-cement composite were measured at various graphene to cement
ratios. The mass-volume method was implemented to measure the density of the
hydrated graphene-cement composite. Particle size distribution of Portland cement
was measured by using a laser scattering particle size analyzer.
Heat of hydration of Portland cement was assessed by using a TAMAIR isothermal conduction calorimeter. Scanning
electron microscopy (SEM) was implemented to study microstructural changes of
the hydrated graphene-cement composites. The mineralogy of graphene-cement and
the hydrated graphene-cement composites was investigated by using X-ray diffraction. The findings indicate
that incorporation of graphene enhances the thermal properties of the hydrated
cement indicating a potential for reduction in early age thermal cracking and
durability improvement of the concrete structures.
Cite this paper
A. Sedaghat, M. Ram, A. Zayed, R. Kamal and N. Shanahan, "Investigation of Physical Properties of Graphene-Cement Composite for Structural Applications," Open Journal of Composite Materials, Vol. 4 No. 1, 2014, pp. 12-21. doi: 10.4236/ojcm.2014.41002.
A. Sedaghat, M. Ram, A. Zayed, R. Kamal and N. Shanahan, "Investigation of Physical Properties of Graphene-Cement Composite for Structural Applications," Open Journal of Composite Materials, Vol. 4 No. 1, 2014, pp. 12-21. doi: 10.4236/ojcm.2014.41002.
References
[1] S. Mindess, J. F. Young and D. Darwin, “Concrete,” 2nd Edition, Prentice-Hall, Upper Saddle River, 2003. [2] I. Odler, “Lea’s Chemistry of Cement and Concrete,” 4th Edition, Arnold Publishers, London, 1998, pp. 241-297. [3] A. Sedaghat, A. Zayed and P. Sandberg, “Measurement and Prediction of Heat of Hydration of Portland Cement Using Isothermal Conduction Calorimetry,” Journal of Testing and Evaluation, Vol. 41, No. 6, 2013, 8 p.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1520/JTE20120272 [4] M. Azenha and R. Faria, “Temperatures and Stresses due to Cement Hydration on the R/C Foundation of a Wind Tower—A Case Study,” Engineering Structures, Vol. 30, No. 9, 2008, pp. 2392-2400.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.engstruct.2008.01.018 [5] A. K. Schindler, “Concrete Hydration, Temperature Development, and Setting at Early-Ages,” Ph.D. Dissertation, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, 2002. [6] H. Alkhateb, A. Al-Ostaz, A.-D. Cheng and X. Li, “Materials Genome for Graphene-Cement Nanocomposites,” Journal of Nanomechanics and Micromechanics, Vol. 3, No. 3, 2013, pp. 67-77.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)NM.2153-5477.0000055 [7] J. Makar, J. Margeson and J. Luh, “In Carbon Nanotube/ Cement Composites-Early Results and Potential Applications,” Proceedings of the 3rd International Conference on Construction Materials: Performance, Innovations and Structural Implications, Vancouver, 22-24 August 2005, pp. 1-10. [8] M. Vandamme and F. J. Ulm, “Nanogranular Origin of Concrete Creep,” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Vol. 106, No. 26, 2009, pp. 10552-10557.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.0901033106 [9] F. Ulm, “Green Concrete: Nanoengineered Materials Could Reduce Greenhouse-Gas Emissions,” Technology Review, Vol. 110, No. 4, 2007, pp. 27-29. [10] H. E. Cardenas, “Nanomaterials in Concrete: Advances in Protection, Repair, and Upgrade,” DEStech Publications, Inc., Lancaster, 2012. [11] A. Peyvandi, P. Soroushian, N. Abdol and A. M. Bala Chandra, “Surface-Modified Graphite Nanomaterials for Improved Reinforcement Efficiency in Cementitious Paste,” Carbon, Vol. 63, 2013, pp. 175-186.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.carbon.2013.06.069 [12] S. Lv, Y. Ma, C. Qiu, T. Sun, J. Liu and Q. Zhou, “Effect of Graphene Oxide Nanosheets of Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Cement Composites,” Construction and Building Materials, Vol. 49, 2013, pp. 121-127. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2013.08.022 [13] M. V. Diamanti, M. Ormellese and M. P. Pedeferri, “Characterization of Photocatalytic and Superhydrophilic Properties of Mortars Containing Titanium Dioxide,” Cement and Concrete Research, Vol. 38, No. 11, 2008, pp. 1349-1353.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cemconres.2008.07.003 [14] D. Chung, “Comparison of Submicron-Diameter Carbon Filaments and Conventional Carbon Fibers as Fillers in Composite Materials,” Carbon, Vol. 39, No. 8, 2001, pp. 1119-1125.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0008-6223(00)00314-6 [15] M. Morsy, S. Alsayed and M. Aqel, “Hybrid Effect of Carbon Nanotube and Nano-clay on Physico-Mechanical Properties of Cement Mortar,” Construction and Building Materials, Vol. 25, No. 1, 2011, pp. 145-149.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2010.06.046 [16] S. Musso, J.-M. Tulliani, G. Ferro and A. Tagliaferro, “Influence of Carbon Nanotubes Structure on the Mechanical Behavior of Cement Composites,” Composites Science and Technology, Vol. 69, No. 11-12, 2009, pp. 1985-1990. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.compscitech.2009.05.002 [17] I. Campillo, A. Guerrero, J. S. Dolado, A. Porro, J. A. Ibáñez and S. Goñi, “Improvement of Initial Mechanical Strength by Nanoalumina in Belite Cements,” Materials Letters, Vol. 61, No. 8, 2007, pp. 1889-1892.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.matlet.2006.07.150 [18] Z. Li, H. Wang, S. He, Y. Lu and M. Wang, “Investigations on the Preparation and Mechanical Properties of the Nano-Alumina Reinforced Cement Composite,” Materials Letters, Vol. 60, No. 3, 2006, pp. 356-359.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.matlet.2005.08.061 [19] H. Li, M. Zhang and J. Ou, “Abrasion Resistance of Concrete Containing Nano-Particles for Pavement,” Wear, Vol. 260, No. 11, 2006, pp. 1262-1266.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.wear.2005.08.006 [20] H. Li, M. Zhang and J. Ou, “Flexural Fatigue Performance of Concrete Containing Nano-Particles for Pavement,” International Journal of Fatigue, Vol. 29, No. 7, 2007, pp. 1292-1301.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijfatigue.2006.10.004 [21] Y. Qing, Z. Zenan, K. Deyu and C. Rongshen, “Influence of Nano-SiO2 Addition on Properties of Hardened Cement Paste as Compared with Silica Fume,” Construction and Building Materials, Vol. 21, No. 3, 2007, pp. 539-545. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2005.09.001 [22] J. Vera-Agullo, V. Chozas-Ligero, D. Portillo-Rico, M. García-Casas, A. Gutiérrez-Martínez, J. Mieres-Royo and J. Grávalos-Moreno, “Mortar and Concrete Reinforced with Nanomaterials,” Nanotechnology in Construction, Vol. 3, 2009, pp. 383-388. [23] W. Wei and X. Qu, “Extraordinary Physical Properties of Functionalized Graphene,” Small, Vol. 8, No. 14, 2012, pp. 2138-2151. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/smll.201200104 [24] K. M. F. Shahil and A. A. Balandin, “Thermal Properties of Graphene and Multilayer Graphene: Applications in Thermal Interface Materials,” Solid State Communications, Vol. 152, No. 15, 2012, pp. 1331-1340.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ssc.2012.04.034 [25] A. V. Eletskii, I. M. Iskandarova, A. A. Knizhnik and D. N. Krasikov, “Graphene: Fabrication Methods and Thermophysical Properties, Physics-Uspekhi, Vol. 54, No. 3 2011, pp. 227-258.
http://dx.doi.org/10.3367/UFNe.0181.201103a.0233 [26] P. A. Basnayaka, M. K. Ram, E. K. Stefanakos and A. Kumar, “Supercapacitors Based on Graphene-Polyaniline Derivative Nanocomposite Electrode Materials,” Electrochimica Acta, Vol. 92, 2013, pp. 376-382.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.electacta.2013.01.039 [27] H. Gómez, M. K. Ram, F. Alvi, P. Villalba, E. L. Stefanakos and A. Kumar, “Graphene-Conducting Polymer Nanocomposite as Novel Electrode for Supercapacitors,” Journal of Power Sources, Vo. 196, No. 8, 2011, pp. 4102-4108. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jpowsour.2010.11.002 [28] F. Alvi, M. K. Ram, P. A. Basnayaka, E. Stefanakos, Y. Goswami and A. Kumar, “GraphenePolyethylenedioxythiophene Conducting Polymer Nanocomposite Based Supercapacitor,” Electrochimica Acta, Vol. 56, No. 25, 2011, pp. 9406-9412.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.electacta.2011.08.024 [29] “Standard Test Method forMeasurement of Heat of Hydration of Hydraulic Cementitious Materials Using Isothermal ConductionCalorimetry,” ASTM C1702-09a, ASTM International, 2012, [30] P. S. Gaal, M. A. Thermitus and D. E. Stroe, “Thermal Conductivity Measurements using the Flash Method,” Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry, Vol. 78, No. 1, 2004, pp. 185-189.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/B:JTAN.0000042166.64587.33 [31] “Standard Specification for Portland Cement,” ASTM C150, ASTM International, 2012. [32] W. K. Brown and K. H. Wohletz, “Derivation of the Weibull Distribution Based on Physical Principles and its Connection to the Rosin-Rammler and Lognormal Distributions,” Journal of Applied Physics, Vol. 78, No. 4, 1995, pp. 2758-2763. http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.360073
[1] S. Mindess, J. F. Young and D. Darwin, “Concrete,” 2nd Edition, Prentice-Hall, Upper Saddle River, 2003. [2] I. Odler, “Lea’s Chemistry of Cement and Concrete,” 4th Edition, Arnold Publishers, London, 1998, pp. 241-297. [3] A. Sedaghat, A. Zayed and P. Sandberg, “Measurement and Prediction of Heat of Hydration of Portland Cement Using Isothermal Conduction Calorimetry,” Journal of Testing and Evaluation, Vol. 41, No. 6, 2013, 8 p.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1520/JTE20120272 [4] M. Azenha and R. Faria, “Temperatures and Stresses due to Cement Hydration on the R/C Foundation of a Wind Tower—A Case Study,” Engineering Structures, Vol. 30, No. 9, 2008, pp. 2392-2400.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.engstruct.2008.01.018 [5] A. K. Schindler, “Concrete Hydration, Temperature Development, and Setting at Early-Ages,” Ph.D. Dissertation, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, 2002. [6] H. Alkhateb, A. Al-Ostaz, A.-D. Cheng and X. Li, “Materials Genome for Graphene-Cement Nanocomposites,” Journal of Nanomechanics and Micromechanics, Vol. 3, No. 3, 2013, pp. 67-77.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)NM.2153-5477.0000055 [7] J. Makar, J. Margeson and J. Luh, “In Carbon Nanotube/ Cement Composites-Early Results and Potential Applications,” Proceedings of the 3rd International Conference on Construction Materials: Performance, Innovations and Structural Implications, Vancouver, 22-24 August 2005, pp. 1-10. [8] M. Vandamme and F. J. Ulm, “Nanogranular Origin of Concrete Creep,” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Vol. 106, No. 26, 2009, pp. 10552-10557.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.0901033106 [9] F. Ulm, “Green Concrete: Nanoengineered Materials Could Reduce Greenhouse-Gas Emissions,” Technology Review, Vol. 110, No. 4, 2007, pp. 27-29. [10] H. E. Cardenas, “Nanomaterials in Concrete: Advances in Protection, Repair, and Upgrade,” DEStech Publications, Inc., Lancaster, 2012. [11] A. Peyvandi, P. Soroushian, N. Abdol and A. M. Bala Chandra, “Surface-Modified Graphite Nanomaterials for Improved Reinforcement Efficiency in Cementitious Paste,” Carbon, Vol. 63, 2013, pp. 175-186.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.carbon.2013.06.069 [12] S. Lv, Y. Ma, C. Qiu, T. Sun, J. Liu and Q. Zhou, “Effect of Graphene Oxide Nanosheets of Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Cement Composites,” Construction and Building Materials, Vol. 49, 2013, pp. 121-127. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2013.08.022 [13] M. V. Diamanti, M. Ormellese and M. P. Pedeferri, “Characterization of Photocatalytic and Superhydrophilic Properties of Mortars Containing Titanium Dioxide,” Cement and Concrete Research, Vol. 38, No. 11, 2008, pp. 1349-1353.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cemconres.2008.07.003 [14] D. Chung, “Comparison of Submicron-Diameter Carbon Filaments and Conventional Carbon Fibers as Fillers in Composite Materials,” Carbon, Vol. 39, No. 8, 2001, pp. 1119-1125.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0008-6223(00)00314-6 [15] M. Morsy, S. Alsayed and M. Aqel, “Hybrid Effect of Carbon Nanotube and Nano-clay on Physico-Mechanical Properties of Cement Mortar,” Construction and Building Materials, Vol. 25, No. 1, 2011, pp. 145-149.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2010.06.046 [16] S. Musso, J.-M. Tulliani, G. Ferro and A. Tagliaferro, “Influence of Carbon Nanotubes Structure on the Mechanical Behavior of Cement Composites,” Composites Science and Technology, Vol. 69, No. 11-12, 2009, pp. 1985-1990. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.compscitech.2009.05.002 [17] I. Campillo, A. Guerrero, J. S. Dolado, A. Porro, J. A. Ibáñez and S. Goñi, “Improvement of Initial Mechanical Strength by Nanoalumina in Belite Cements,” Materials Letters, Vol. 61, No. 8, 2007, pp. 1889-1892.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.matlet.2006.07.150 [18] Z. Li, H. Wang, S. He, Y. Lu and M. Wang, “Investigations on the Preparation and Mechanical Properties of the Nano-Alumina Reinforced Cement Composite,” Materials Letters, Vol. 60, No. 3, 2006, pp. 356-359.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.matlet.2005.08.061 [19] H. Li, M. Zhang and J. Ou, “Abrasion Resistance of Concrete Containing Nano-Particles for Pavement,” Wear, Vol. 260, No. 11, 2006, pp. 1262-1266.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.wear.2005.08.006 [20] H. Li, M. Zhang and J. Ou, “Flexural Fatigue Performance of Concrete Containing Nano-Particles for Pavement,” International Journal of Fatigue, Vol. 29, No. 7, 2007, pp. 1292-1301.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijfatigue.2006.10.004 [21] Y. Qing, Z. Zenan, K. Deyu and C. Rongshen, “Influence of Nano-SiO2 Addition on Properties of Hardened Cement Paste as Compared with Silica Fume,” Construction and Building Materials, Vol. 21, No. 3, 2007, pp. 539-545. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2005.09.001 [22] J. Vera-Agullo, V. Chozas-Ligero, D. Portillo-Rico, M. García-Casas, A. Gutiérrez-Martínez, J. Mieres-Royo and J. Grávalos-Moreno, “Mortar and Concrete Reinforced with Nanomaterials,” Nanotechnology in Construction, Vol. 3, 2009, pp. 383-388. [23] W. Wei and X. Qu, “Extraordinary Physical Properties of Functionalized Graphene,” Small, Vol. 8, No. 14, 2012, pp. 2138-2151. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/smll.201200104 [24] K. M. F. Shahil and A. A. Balandin, “Thermal Properties of Graphene and Multilayer Graphene: Applications in Thermal Interface Materials,” Solid State Communications, Vol. 152, No. 15, 2012, pp. 1331-1340.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ssc.2012.04.034 [25] A. V. Eletskii, I. M. Iskandarova, A. A. Knizhnik and D. N. Krasikov, “Graphene: Fabrication Methods and Thermophysical Properties, Physics-Uspekhi, Vol. 54, No. 3 2011, pp. 227-258.
http://dx.doi.org/10.3367/UFNe.0181.201103a.0233 [26] P. A. Basnayaka, M. K. Ram, E. K. Stefanakos and A. Kumar, “Supercapacitors Based on Graphene-Polyaniline Derivative Nanocomposite Electrode Materials,” Electrochimica Acta, Vol. 92, 2013, pp. 376-382.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.electacta.2013.01.039 [27] H. Gómez, M. K. Ram, F. Alvi, P. Villalba, E. L. Stefanakos and A. Kumar, “Graphene-Conducting Polymer Nanocomposite as Novel Electrode for Supercapacitors,” Journal of Power Sources, Vo. 196, No. 8, 2011, pp. 4102-4108. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jpowsour.2010.11.002 [28] F. Alvi, M. K. Ram, P. A. Basnayaka, E. Stefanakos, Y. Goswami and A. Kumar, “GraphenePolyethylenedioxythiophene Conducting Polymer Nanocomposite Based Supercapacitor,” Electrochimica Acta, Vol. 56, No. 25, 2011, pp. 9406-9412.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.electacta.2011.08.024 [29] “Standard Test Method forMeasurement of Heat of Hydration of Hydraulic Cementitious Materials Using Isothermal ConductionCalorimetry,” ASTM C1702-09a, ASTM International, 2012, [30] P. S. Gaal, M. A. Thermitus and D. E. Stroe, “Thermal Conductivity Measurements using the Flash Method,” Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry, Vol. 78, No. 1, 2004, pp. 185-189.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/B:JTAN.0000042166.64587.33 [31] “Standard Specification for Portland Cement,” ASTM C150, ASTM International, 2012. [32] W. K. Brown and K. H. Wohletz, “Derivation of the Weibull Distribution Based on Physical Principles and its Connection to the Rosin-Rammler and Lognormal Distributions,” Journal of Applied Physics, Vol. 78, No. 4, 1995, pp. 2758-2763. http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.360073