Effect of GO nanosheets on shapes of cement hydration crystals and their formation process

• Different dispersive graphene oxide (GO) nanosheets were obtained by ultrasound technique.
• GO nanosheets can construct the bar-like crystals into flower-like and polyhedral crystals.
• Flower-like and polyhedral crystals can improve flexural strength and compressive strength.
• Formation process of cement hydration crystals are proposed.

The effects of graphene oxide (GO) nanosheets with different sizes and dosages on cement hydration crystal shapes and the mechanical strength of cement paste are investigated. It is found that flower-like crystals are more prominent at low GO dosage (<0.03%) and polyhedral or lamellar crystals at high dosage (>0.03%). The flexural and compressive strengths of cement paste with smaller GO nanosheets are clearly improved. Formation processes for hydration crystals are proposed based on scanning electron microscopy images. GO nanosheets can promote assembly of flower-like and polyhedral structures from rod-like crystals, with the ultimate formation of a dense structure.

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