Mechanical and Electrical Properties of Multilayer Graphene Composite Conductive Concrete
Publication: Journal of Cold Regions Engineering
Volume 37, Issue 3
Abstract
As a material for road deicing and snow removal, electrically conductive concrete (ECON) can convert electrical energy into thermal energy to automatically melt ice and snow, avoiding manual and mechanical operations. However, to achieve ideal electrical conductivity, the content of single-doped conductive fillers in ECON needs to be high, which leads to poor workability of ECON and agglomeration of conductive fillers. Combing conductive fillers with different scales helps reduce the content of single-doped conductive fillers in ECON. This study prepared composite conductive concrete using multilayer reduced graphene oxide (RGO), carbon fiber, and steel fiber as conductive fillers. The effect of multilayer RGO on composite conductive concrete’s compressive strength, flexural strength, and electrical conductivity was investigated. Besides, the mechanism of RGO on composite conductive concrete's conductive network was analyzed by scanning electron microscope (SEM). Results showed that the 28-day mechanical properties and electrical conductivity of composite conductive concrete first increased and then decreased. Composite conductive concrete containing RGO with 0.4% cement weight (RGO-0.4) exhibited better mechanical and electrical properties. The improvement of the performance of composite conductive concrete was attributed to the filling effect of RGO on the gaps of concrete matrix and the wrapping effect of graphene flocs on fibrous conductive fillers because these effects increased the compactness of the matrix and conductive contact area, respectively. Also, a snow melting test was carried out using an RGO-0.4 slab at an ambient temperature of −15°C. The snow melting efficiency was improved, showing that 20-cm-thick snow melted in 1.2 h. In conclusion, the hybrid addition of RGO and fibrous conductive fillers has positive effects on ECON, providing a new way to develop ECON.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
References
ASTM. 2015. Standard test method for slump of hydraulic-cement concrete. ASTM Standard C143. West Conshohocken, PA: ASTM.
ASTM. 2017. Standard test method for air content of freshly mixed concrete by the pressure method. ASTM Standard C231. West Conshohocken, PA: ASTM.
ASTM. 2020. Standard test method for compressive strength of cylindrical concrete specimens. ASTM Standard C39. West Conshohocken, PA: ASTM.
ASTM. 2021. Standard test method for flexural strength of concrete. ASTM Standard C78. West Conshohocken, PA: ASTM.
Abedi, M., R. Fangueiro, and A. G. Correia. 2020. “Ultra-sensitive affordable cementitious composite with high mechanical and microstructural performances by hybrid CNT/GNP.” Materials 13 (16): 3484. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma13163484.
Bai, S., L. Jiang, N. Xu, M. Jin, and S. Jiang. 2018. “Enhancement of mechanical and electrical properties of graphene/cement composite due to improved dispersion of graphene by addition of silica fume.” Constr. Build. Mater. 164: 433–441. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2017.12.176.
Belli, A., A. Mobili, T. Bellezze, and F. Tittarelli. 2020. “Commercial and recycled carbon/steel fibers for fiber-reinforced cement mortars with high electrical conductivity.” Cem. Concr. Compos. 109: 103569. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cemconcomp.2020.103569.
Dadkhah, M., and J. M. Tulliani. 2022. “Damage management of concrete structures with engineered cementitious materials and natural fibers: A review of potential uses.” Sustainability 14 (7): 3917. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14073917.
Dehghanpour, H., K. Yilmaz, F. Afshari, and M. Ipek. 2020. “Electrically conductive concrete: A laboratory-based investigation and numerical analysis approach.” Constr. Build. Mater. 260: 119984. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2020.119948.
El-Dieb, A. S., M. A. El-Ghareeb, M. A. Abdel-Rahman, and A. N. El Sayed. 2018. “Multifunctional electrically conductive concrete using different fillers.” J. Build. Eng. 15: 61–69. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jobe.2017.10.012.
Equiza, M. A., M. Calvo-Polanco, D. Cirelli, J. Señorans, M. Wartenbe, C. Saunders, and J. J. Zwiazek. 2017. “Long-term impact of road salt (NaCl) on soil and urban trees in Edmonton, Canada.” Urban For. Urban Greening 21: 16–28. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2016.11.003.
Farnam, Y., M. Krafcik, L. Liston, T. Washington, K. Erk, B. Tao, and J. Weiss. 2015. “Evaluating the use of phase change materials in concrete pavement to melt ice and snow.” J. Mater. Civ. Eng. 28 (4): 04015161. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)MT.1943-5533.0001439.
Gholampour, A., K. M. Valizadeh, D. N. Tran, T. Ozbakkaloglu, and D. Losic. 2017. “From graphene oxide to reduced graphene oxide: Impact on the physiochemical and mechanical properties of graphene–cement composites.” ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 9 (49): 43275–43286. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.7b16736.
Gong, K., Z. Pan, A. H. Korayem, L. Qiu, D. Li, F. Collins, C. M. Wang, and W. H. Duan. 2015. “Reinforcing effects of graphene oxide on Portland cement paste.” J. Mater. Civ. Eng. 27 (2): A4014010. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)MT.1943-5533.0001125.
Gopalakrishnan, R., and R. Kaveri. 2021. “Using graphene oxide to improve the mechanical and electrical properties of fiber-reinforced high-volume sugarcane bagasse ash cement mortar.” Eur. Phys. J. Plus 136 (2): 1–15.
Han, B. G., L. Q. Zhang, C. Y. Zhang, Y. Y. Wang, X. Yu, and J. P. Ou. 2016. “Reinforcement effect and mechanism of carbon fibers to mechanical and electrically conductive properties of cement-based materials.” Constr. Build. Mater. 125: 479–489. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2016.08.063.
Izadkhah, M. S., H. Erfan-Niya, and S. Z. Heris. 2019. “Influence of graphene oxide nanosheets on the stability and thermal conductivity of nanofluids.” J. Therm. Anal. Calorim. 135 (1): 581–595. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-018-7100-7.
Kiamahalleh, M. V., A. Gholampour, D. N. Tran, T. Ozbakkaloglu, and D. Losic. 2020. “Physiochemical and mechanical properties of reduced graphene oxide–cement mortar composites: Effect of reduced graphene oxide particle size.” Constr. Build. Mater. 250: 118832. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2020.118832.
Liu, Y. S., M. Z. Wang, W. C. Tian, B. M. Qi, Z. Y. Lei, and W. Wang. 2019. “Ohmic heating curing of carbon fiber/carbon nanofiber synergistically strengthening cement-based composites as repair/reinforcement materials used in ultra-low temperature environment.” Composites, Part A 125: 105570. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compositesa.2019.105570.
Lu, Z., D. Hou, H. Ma, T. Fan, and Z. Li. 2016. “Effects of graphene oxide on the properties and microstructures of the magnesium potassium phosphate cement paste.” Constr. Build. Mater. 119: 107–112. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2016.05.060.
Ma, Y. X., X. Yu, F. Zhao, J. Liu, P. F. Zhu, P. Zhang, J. Zhang, and L. Wu. 2022. “Research progress in environmental response of fiber concrete and its functional mechanisms.” Adv. Mater. Sci. Eng. 2022: 3059507. https://doi.org/10.1155/2022/3059507.
Motiei, P., M. Yaghoubi, and E. GoshtasbiRad. 2019. “Transient simulation of a hybrid photovoltaic-thermoelectric system using a phase change material.” Sustainable Energy Technol. Assess. 34: 200–213. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seta.2019.05.004.
Nahvi, A., S. M. S. Satadi, K. Cetin, H. Ceylan, A. Sassani, and S. Kim. 2018. “Towards resilient infrastructure systems for winter weather events: Integrated stochastic economic evaluation of electrically conductive heated airfield pavements.” Sustainable Cities Soc. 41: 195–204. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scs.2018.05.014.
Pan, Z., L. He, L. Qiu, A. H. Korayem, G. Li, J. W. Zhu, and M. C. Wang. 2015. “Mechanical properties and microstructure of a graphene oxide–cement composite.” Cem. Concr. Compos. 58: 140–147. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cemconcomp.2015.02.001.
Rahman, M. L., A. Malakooti, H. Ceylan, S. Kim, and P. C. Taylor. 2022. “A review of electrically conductive concrete heated pavement system technology: From the laboratory to the full-scale implementation.” Constr. Build. Mater. 329: 127139. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2022.127139.
Rao, R., J. Y. Fu, Y. J. Chan, C. Y. Tuan, and C. H. Liu. 2018. “Steel fiber confined graphite concrete for pavement deicing.” Composites, Part B 155: 187–196. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compositesb.2018.08.013.
Rehman, S., Z. Ibrahim, M. Jameel, S. A. Memon, M. F. Javed, M. Aslam, K. Mehmood, and S. Nazar. 2018. “Assessment of rheological and piezoresistive properties of graphene based cement composites.” Int. J. Concr. Struct. Mater. 12 (1): 1–23. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40069-018-0237-8.
Sassani, A., A. Arabzadeh, H. Ceylan, S. Kim, S. S. Sadati, K. Gopalakrishnan, and H. and Abdualla. 2018a. “Carbon fiber-based electrically conductive concrete for salt-free deicing of pavements.” J. Cleaner Prod. 203: 799–809. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2018.08.315.
Sassani, A., H. Ceylan, S. Kim, A. Arabzadeh, P. C. Taylor, and K. Gopalakrishnan. 2018b. “Development of carbon fiber-modified electrically conductive concrete for implementation in Des Moines International Airport.” Case Stud. Constr. Mater. 8: 277–291. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cscm.2018.02.003.
Sassani, A., H. Ceylan, S. Kim, K. Gopalakrishnan, A. Arabzadeh, and P. C. Taylor. 2017. “Influence of mix design variables on engineering properties of carbon fiber-modified electrically conductive concrete.” Constr. Build. Mater. 152: 168–181. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2017.06.172.
Shang, Y., D. Zhang, C. Yang, Y. Liu, and Y. Liu. 2015. “Effect of graphene oxide on the rheological properties of cement pastes.” Constr. Build. Mater. 96: 20–28. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2015.07.181.
Şimşek, B., S. Doruk, Ö. B. Ceran, and T. Uygunoğlu. 2021. “Principal component analysis approach to dispersed graphene oxide decorated with sodium dodecyl sulfate cement pastes.” J. Build. Eng. 38: 102234. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jobe.2021.102234.
Sun, S., S. Ding, B. Han, S. Dong, and J. Ou. 2017a. “Multi-layer graphene-engineered cementitious composites with multifunctionality/intelligence.” Composites, Part B 129: 221–232. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compositesb.2017.07.063.
Sun, S. W., B. G. Han, S. Jiang, X. Yu, Y. L. Wang, H. Y. Li, and J. P. Ou. 2017b. “Nano graphite platelets-enabled piezoresistive cementitious composites for structural health monitoring.” Constr. Build. Mater. 136: 314–328.
Sun, Y., H. D. Bao, Z. X. Guo, and J. Yu. 2009. “Modeling of the electrical percolation of mixed carbon fillers in polymer-based composites.” J. Macromolecules 42 (1): 459–463. https://doi.org/10.1021/ma8023188.
Wang, L., and F. Aslani. 2019. “A review on material design, performance, and practical application of electrically conductive cementitious composites.” Constr. Build. Mater. 229: 116892. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2019.116892.
Wang, T. J., J. Y. Xu, B. X. Meng, and G. Peng. 2020. “Experimental study on the effect of carbon nanofiber content on the durability of concrete.” Constr. Build. Mater. 250: 118891. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2020.118891.
Wang, X. Y., Y. L. Zhu, M. Z. Zhu, Y. H. Zhu, H. T. Fan, and Y. F. Wang. 2017. “Thermal analysis and optimization of an ice and snow melting system using geothermy by super-long flexible heat pipes.” Appl. Therm. Eng. 112: 1353–1363. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2016.11.007.
Won, J. P., C. K. Kim, S. J. Lee, J. H. Lee, and R. W. Kim. 2014. “Thermal characteristics of a conductive cement-based composite for a snow-melting heated pavement system.” Compos. Struct. 118: 106–111. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compstruct.2014.07.021.
Wu, J., J. Liu, and F. Yang. 2015. “Three-phase composite conductive concrete for pavement deicing.” Constr. Build. Mater. 75: 129–135. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2014.11.004.
Yang, F., J. L. Zheng, Y. Q. Wei, and J. R. Tang. 2021. “Experimental study on hot spring melting snow on road and its influence on pavement strength.” Chin. J. Underground Space Eng. 17: 720–726.
Yang, T., Z. J. Yang, M. Singla, G. Song, and Q. Li. 2012. “Experimental study on carbon fiber tape–based deicing technology.” J. Cold Reg. Eng. 26 (2): 55–70. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)CR.1943-5495.0000038.
Zhang, W., J. Ouyang, Y. F. Ruan, Q. F. Zheng, J. L. Wang, X. Yu, and B. G. Han. 2018. “Effect of mix proportion and processing method on the mechanical and electrical properties of cementitious composites with nano/fiber fillers.” Mater. Res. Express 5 (1): 015706. https://doi.org/10.1088/2053-1591/aaa60a.
Zhao, W. K., Y. N. Zhang, L. Li, W. T. Su, B. X. Li, and Z. B. Fu. 2020. “Snow melting on the road surface driven by a geothermal system in the severely cold region of China.” Sustainable Energy Technol. Assess. 40: 100781. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seta.2020.100781.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Cold Regions Engineering
Volume 37 • Issue 3 • September 2023
Copyright
© 2023 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: May 12, 2022
Accepted: Feb 2, 2023
Published online: May 3, 2023
Published in print: Sep 1, 2023
Discussion open until: Oct 3, 2023
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.