Fracture and mechanical behaviour of a GO reinforced mortar

In the present paper, the effects of the graphene oxide (GO) nanosheets addition in a cement-based material are experimentally investigated from both the mechanical and the fracture point of view. More precisely, an experimental campaign is performed on both plain mortar and mortar reinforced with 0.03% GO nanosheets obtained by means of the Brodie's method. The mechanical properties and the fracture toughness are determined through flexural, compressive, and fracture tests. It is observed that, in presence of GO, the Ca-rich silicate crystals have a compact polyhedron-like shape, whereas elongated Ca-rich silicate crystals have been found in plain mortar. The compact shape of such crystals in the GO reinforced mortar produces: (i) a flexural strength increase of about 4%, (ii) a compressive strength increase of about 3%, (iii) a fracture toughness increase of about 26%, with respect to the corresponding values characterising the plain mortar.