Authors:
P V R K REDDY; D RAVI PRASAD;
Abstract:
Graphene oxide (GO) has emerged as a new carbon-based nanomaterial known for its complex carbon structure and strength properties. In the current investigation, an attempt is made to improve the fluidity of GO-concrete, cost-effective mineral additive, fly ash (FA) is used. The influence of GO addition at 0.15% and replacement of cement with fly ash at 10%, 20% and 30% on the fluidity, strength and microstructural properties of high strength concrete were investigated. The experimental results revealed that fly ash plays a key role to improve fluidity and hence workability, due to the size gradation, ball effect and less water demand. Therefore, fly ash counteracts the GO effect on the diminution of fluidity. Also, GO counteracts the fly ash effect on delaying strength gain at an early age. The replacement of fly ash up to 20% and GO addition of 0.15% showed the improvement in the strength characteristics of FA-GO-concrete is more than control concrete. The microstructural studies of SEM, EDX, XRD and FTIR indicated that the formation of better hydration phases leads to the densification of microstructure in FA-GO-concrete. The present investigation shows the advantage of combining GO and fly ash, which plays a synergistic role and counterbalances the drawbacks of one another.
Keywords:
Graphene oxide; Fly ash; Concrete; Workability; Mechanical Properties; Microstructure