Enhancement in durability and performance for cement-based materials through tailored water-based graphene nanofluid additives

Graphene-enhanced cement-based composites are gaining prominence in civil engineering due to their superior performance characteristics. However, the high production costs of graphene have limited their widespread adoption. Building on our previous work, we have developed a one-step method to produce water-stable, dispersed graphene nanofluid additives (GNAs) that can replace water in cement mixing, showcasing their potential for large-scale applications. This study evaluates the effects of GNAs on hydration, strength, shrinkage resistance and chloride impermeability of cement composite and investigates their long-term performance under various exposure conditions. We employ advanced microscopic characterization techniques, including scanning electron microscopy (SEM), mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP), nitrogen adsorption/desorption (BET), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) to elucidate the modification mechanisms. Our results demonstrate that a 0.1 wt% concentration of graphene nanofluids significantly enhances the properties of cement-based composites, offering substantial benefits for marine civil engineering applications.