Experimental assessment of graphene nanoplatelet modified paver blocks for mechanical and durability enhancement at low dosages

Experimental assessment of graphene nanoplatelet modified paver blocks for mechanical and durability enhancement at low dosages | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Experimental assessment of graphene nanoplatelet modified paver blocks for mechanical and durability enhancement at low dosages K. Sathya Prabha¹, N. Ilavarasan² This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-7946472/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract This research evaluated the impact of adding graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) in small amounts, ranging from 0 to 0.04 wt% of cement, on the mechanical and durability characteristics of cement paver blocks. The GNPs were dispersed in water using a lignosulfonate/polycarboxylate superplasticizer and mixed through a standardized water-phase process. Testing was conducted in accordance with ASTM standards, including compressive strength (ASTM C39), flexural strength (ASTM C78), water absorption (ASTM C642), and sulfate resistance (ASTM C1012). Each test result represents the average of three samples per mix, ensuring statistical reliability. At a GNP concentration of 0.04 wt%, flexural strength increased by 40%, compressive strength improved by 28% compared to the control mix, and water absorption decreased by 38%. Sulfate-induced expansion and mass change were reduced by up to 15% (all p < 0.05). These enhancements are attributed to improved hydration, microcrack bridging, and pore refinement due to the well-dispersed multilayer GNPs. The findings suggest that even at low concentrations, GNPs can significantly boost the strength and durability of concrete without compromising workability, supporting their potential for scalable use in precast paving applications. These results are consistent with previous studies indicating that the chemistry and dispersion quality of graphene are vital for optimizing performance in cementitious composites [ 1 ]. Graphene nanoplatelets Paver blocks Nanomodification Durability Water absorption Full Text Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. Our growing team is made up of researchers and industry professionals working together to solve the most critical problems facing scientific publishing. Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-7946472","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":557758422,"identity":"d5e6b433-1848-4afd-bda7-03acebd4cd02","order_by":0,"name":"K. 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The GNPs were dispersed in water using a lignosulfonate/polycarboxylate superplasticizer and mixed through a standardized water-phase process. Testing was conducted in accordance with ASTM standards, including compressive strength (ASTM C39), flexural strength (ASTM C78), water absorption (ASTM C642), and sulfate resistance (ASTM C1012). Each test result represents the average of three samples per mix, ensuring statistical reliability. At a GNP concentration of 0.04 wt%, flexural strength increased by 40%, compressive strength improved by 28% compared to the control mix, and water absorption decreased by 38%. Sulfate-induced expansion and mass change were reduced by up to 15% (all p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.05). These enhancements are attributed to improved hydration, microcrack bridging, and pore refinement due to the well-dispersed multilayer GNPs. The findings suggest that even at low concentrations, GNPs can significantly boost the strength and durability of concrete without compromising workability, supporting their potential for scalable use in precast paving applications. 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