Researchers at NUST "MISIS" have developed a composite cement material, the strength of which has been increased by more than a third by adding graphene oxide nanosheets. This was reported by the press service of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation.
The development is based on aluminate-calcium cement (ACC), known for its resistance to high temperatures and aggressive chemical environments. However, during hydration, ACC is prone to phase transformations, which leads to an increase in porosity and a decrease in strength. To compensate for this deficiency, scientists introduced 0.05% graphene oxide by weight of cement.
Graphene oxide is a two-dimensional nanomaterial obtained from hydrophilic graphene sheets saturated with oxygen. Its introduction made it possible to compact the microstructure of cement stone, reduce porosity and significantly enhance the mechanical properties of the composite.
The development opens up prospects for the use of the new material in refractory production, metallurgy, the chemical industry, as well as in the construction of facilities operated in extreme conditions. Considering that graphene is a Nobel Prize-winning material (the 2010 prize was awarded to K. Novoselov and A. Geim), its integration into construction technologies emphasizes the growing role of nanotechnology in the industry of the future.