Enhancing Mechanical Performance and Durability Using Graphene Oxide as a Functional Nano-Filler and Reinforcement for Smart, High- Performance Construction Materials

Enhancing Mechanical Performance and Durability Using Graphene Oxide as a Functional Nano-Filler and Reinforcement for Smart, High- Performance Construction Materials | 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 Enhancing Mechanical Performance and Durability Using Graphene Oxide as a Functional Nano-Filler and Reinforcement for Smart, High- Performance Construction Materials JAYACHANDRA J C, Y Ramalinga Reddy This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-9279079/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 article aims at investigating the novel use of Graphene Oxide (GO) as a nano-reinforcement in cement mortar made entirely with manufactured sand (M-sand), focusing on both mechanical performance and chemical durability. GO was added in dosages ranging from 0.00% to 0.10% by weight of cement, increasing in 0.02% increments. The study uniquely combines nano-modification with 100% M-sand use, targeting sustainable and high-performance construction materials. Compressive strength testing showed clear improvements with GO incorporation. The optimal dosage was 0.06%, yie lding 36.05 N/mm² at 7 days, 42.21 N/mm² at 28 days, and 58.13 N/mm² at 56 days. Higher dosages led to a slight decline, likely due to GO agglomeration. Durability was tested by immersing 56-day cured specimens for 28 days in 2% H₂SO₄, 5% MgSO₄, and 3% NaCl solutions. The 0.06% GO mix retained 64.5% strength under acid attack, 70.4% under sulphate, and 86.9% (50.5 N/mm²) under chloride exposure—significantly outperforming the control. Weight loss measurements mirrored strength trends. GO-modified specimens experienced much less degradation, with up to 10.8% lower mass loss under acid attack and similar benefits under sulphate and chloride exposure. In conclusion, GO at 0.06% enhances both strength and chemical durability of 100% M-sand cement mortar, marking it as a promising nano-additive for eco-friendly, long-lasting cementitious systems in aggressive environments. Graphene oxide Compressive strength Durability Chemical attacks Nano-reinforcement 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. 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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-9279079","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":624505253,"identity":"8c9aec92-ed0e-44e6-817d-17d8bf14ddab","order_by":0,"name":"JAYACHANDRA J C","email":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAZAAAAAyAQMAAABI0h/eAAAABlBMVEX///8AAABVwtN+AAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAABB0lEQVRIiWNgGAWjYBACxgYwdQCIExgYPkBFJcCIGC2MM4jRAgUQLcw8CC24AXP7GcMPDDV35M3Zcx9+tt1jk9jfwHzwNg+DRR5Oh/XkGEswHHtmuLPnubF0zrO0xBkH2JKteRgkinH7JcdAgrHhMOOGG2kM0jkHDhszHOAxkwZqSWzApaX/jfEPoBZ7oBbm3xYH/hvLH+D/hl/LjBwzkC2JQC1s0gwHDsgZHOBhI6DlWZlFwrHDyRvOPGOz7DmQLGd4mM3Yco4Bbi2G/cmbb3yoOWy74Xga840fB+x45I43P7zxpqIOt5YGDgNQvCMBZhBhgEM9EMgzsD/ALTsKRsEoGAWjAAQAXopYO/PLlb4AAAAASUVORK5CYII=","orcid":"","institution":"REVA University","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"JAYACHANDRA","middleName":"J","lastName":"C","suffix":""},{"id":624505254,"identity":"ba5eabbe-3fa4-4891-93cc-c63b648d93ef","order_by":1,"name":"Y Ramalinga Reddy","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"REVA University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Y","middleName":"Ramalinga","lastName":"Reddy","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2026-03-31 11:25:57","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":"","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-9279079/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-9279079/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":108802830,"identity":"ee521a1f-6410-4c1c-bda0-0854c6a3a51d","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-05-08 14:28:49","extension":"pdf","order_by":1,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":1324264,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"NewRevisedENHANCINGMECHANICALPERFORMANCEANDDURABILITYUsingGO1.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-9279079/v1_covered_c4209aa3-3a21-4464-a959-5b796cb104db.pdf"}],"financialInterests":"No competing interests reported.","formattedTitle":"\u003cp\u003eEnhancing Mechanical Performance and Durability Using Graphene Oxide as a Functional Nano-Filler and Reinforcement for Smart, High- Performance Construction Materials\u003c/p\u003e","fulltext":[],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":false,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":false,"hideJournal":true,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":false,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":true,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":true,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true},"keywords":"Graphene oxide, Compressive strength, Durability, Chemical attacks, Nano-reinforcement","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-9279079/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-9279079/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"This research article aims at investigating the novel use of Graphene Oxide (GO) as a nano-reinforcement in cement mortar made entirely with manufactured sand (M-sand), focusing on both mechanical performance and chemical durability. GO was added in dosages ranging from 0.00% to 0.10% by weight of cement, increasing in 0.02% increments. The study uniquely combines nano-modification with 100% M-sand use, targeting sustainable and high-performance construction materials. Compressive strength testing showed clear improvements with GO incorporation. The optimal dosage was 0.06%, yie lding 36.05 N/mm² at 7 days, 42.21 N/mm² at 28 days, and 58.13 N/mm² at 56 days. Higher dosages led to a slight decline, likely due to GO agglomeration. Durability was tested by immersing 56-day cured specimens for 28 days in 2% H₂SO₄, 5% MgSO₄, and 3% NaCl solutions. The 0.06% GO mix retained 64.5% strength under acid attack, 70.4% under sulphate, and 86.9% (50.5 N/mm²) under chloride exposure—significantly outperforming the control. Weight loss measurements mirrored strength trends. 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