Comparative effects of graphene oxide on the interfacial transition zone in silica fume-modified cement mortar at varying water-to-binder ratios
The interfacial transition zone (ITZ) is the most vulnerable and porous phase in concrete, corresponding to the interface between aggregates and the cement matrix. To densify the ITZ microstructure, this study proposes the incorporation of graphene oxide (GO) into silica fume-modified mortars with h...
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Elsevier
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Case Studies in Construction Materials |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214509525000294 |
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| author | Sumin Im Seongmin Cho Junxing Liu Peiqi Li Dahyung Jin Sungwon Sim Seungmin Lim Sungchul Bae |
| author_facet | Sumin Im Seongmin Cho Junxing Liu Peiqi Li Dahyung Jin Sungwon Sim Seungmin Lim Sungchul Bae |
| author_sort | Sumin Im |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The interfacial transition zone (ITZ) is the most vulnerable and porous phase in concrete, corresponding to the interface between aggregates and the cement matrix. To densify the ITZ microstructure, this study proposes the incorporation of graphene oxide (GO) into silica fume-modified mortars with high and low water-to-binder (W/B) ratios of 0.4 and 0.2, respectively. GO enhanced the degree of hydration by providing nucleation sites and promoting the pozzolanic reaction of silica fume and Ca(OH)2, leading to the formation of secondary amorphous phases. In the mortars containing GO, the calcium-to-silicon ratio of the phase around the aggregate surface increases because the GO nanosheets absorbed Ca2 + ions and migrated with the mixing water. The comparative effects of GO on the mechanical properties of the ITZ in the mortars with high and low W/B ratios were assessed using nanoindentation tests. The results indicate that the GO nanosheets interlocking with the Ca2+ ions resulted in the formation of denser hydration products with high elastic modulus in the vicinity of the aggregates at a W/B ratio of 0.4 while reducing the amount of unhydrated cement grains at a W/B ratio of 0.2. Overall, this study highlights the comparative effects of GO on enhancing the performance of normal- and high-strength cement composites and mortars, with a particular focus on the improvement of ITZ. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-f9d17e0c3e7c4b1a88dd1d389d59fcec |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2214-5095 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Case Studies in Construction Materials |
| spelling | doaj-art-f9d17e0c3e7c4b1a88dd1d389d59fcec2025-01-19T06:25:01ZengElsevierCase Studies in Construction Materials2214-50952025-07-0122e04230Comparative effects of graphene oxide on the interfacial transition zone in silica fume-modified cement mortar at varying water-to-binder ratiosSumin Im0Seongmin Cho1Junxing Liu2Peiqi Li3Dahyung Jin4Sungwon Sim5Seungmin Lim6Sungchul Bae7Department of Architectural Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul 04763, South KoreaDepartment of Architectural Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul 04763, South Korea; Corresponding authors.Department of Architectural Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul 04763, South KoreaDepartment of Architectural Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul 04763, South KoreaDepartment of Architectural Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul 04763, South KoreaDepartment of Architectural Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul 04763, South KoreaDepartment of Architecture, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 24341, South KoreaDepartment of Architectural Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul 04763, South Korea; Corresponding authors.The interfacial transition zone (ITZ) is the most vulnerable and porous phase in concrete, corresponding to the interface between aggregates and the cement matrix. To densify the ITZ microstructure, this study proposes the incorporation of graphene oxide (GO) into silica fume-modified mortars with high and low water-to-binder (W/B) ratios of 0.4 and 0.2, respectively. GO enhanced the degree of hydration by providing nucleation sites and promoting the pozzolanic reaction of silica fume and Ca(OH)2, leading to the formation of secondary amorphous phases. In the mortars containing GO, the calcium-to-silicon ratio of the phase around the aggregate surface increases because the GO nanosheets absorbed Ca2 + ions and migrated with the mixing water. The comparative effects of GO on the mechanical properties of the ITZ in the mortars with high and low W/B ratios were assessed using nanoindentation tests. The results indicate that the GO nanosheets interlocking with the Ca2+ ions resulted in the formation of denser hydration products with high elastic modulus in the vicinity of the aggregates at a W/B ratio of 0.4 while reducing the amount of unhydrated cement grains at a W/B ratio of 0.2. Overall, this study highlights the comparative effects of GO on enhancing the performance of normal- and high-strength cement composites and mortars, with a particular focus on the improvement of ITZ.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214509525000294NanomaterialsGraphene oxideInterfacial transition zoneNanoindentation |
| spellingShingle | Sumin Im Seongmin Cho Junxing Liu Peiqi Li Dahyung Jin Sungwon Sim Seungmin Lim Sungchul Bae Comparative effects of graphene oxide on the interfacial transition zone in silica fume-modified cement mortar at varying water-to-binder ratios Case Studies in Construction Materials Nanomaterials Graphene oxide Interfacial transition zone Nanoindentation |
| title | Comparative effects of graphene oxide on the interfacial transition zone in silica fume-modified cement mortar at varying water-to-binder ratios |
| title_full | Comparative effects of graphene oxide on the interfacial transition zone in silica fume-modified cement mortar at varying water-to-binder ratios |
| title_fullStr | Comparative effects of graphene oxide on the interfacial transition zone in silica fume-modified cement mortar at varying water-to-binder ratios |
| title_full_unstemmed | Comparative effects of graphene oxide on the interfacial transition zone in silica fume-modified cement mortar at varying water-to-binder ratios |
| title_short | Comparative effects of graphene oxide on the interfacial transition zone in silica fume-modified cement mortar at varying water-to-binder ratios |
| title_sort | comparative effects of graphene oxide on the interfacial transition zone in silica fume modified cement mortar at varying water to binder ratios |
| topic | Nanomaterials Graphene oxide Interfacial transition zone Nanoindentation |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214509525000294 |
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