Advancements in mechanical and physical properties for marble powder–cement composites strengthened by nanostructured graphite particles

• A novel process is developed to overcome the reduced strength.
• Nano graphite particle leads to reduce the water absorption.
• Nano graphite particle increases the apparent density.
• Nano graphite particle also increases the strength gains.

Since Portland limestone cements display some negative side effect such as the reduced strength, this non-budget research aims to develop novel marble powder–cement which overcome this negative side effect. This study uses the nanographite particle, pure Portland cement, super plasticizer, tap water, and standard mortar sand for preparing the marble powder–cement and marble powder–cement mortar. Examined properties are water absorption, apparent density, flexural strength, and compressive strength. Results reveal that since the nanographite particle and the super plasticizer are added for mortar containing 35% MP and 65% pure Portland cement, these mortars display comparatively important advances in the strength gain as well as water absorption and density. Nanographite particle and super plasticizer lead to increasing over 28% greater flexural strength and over 22% greater compressive strength in marble powder–cement mortar when compared to pure Portland cement mortar. Results show that cement containing the ground marble powder needs the nanographite particle and the super plasticizer for combining the marble powder and cement properly in mortar. Results also reveal that the use of nanographite particle is favorable for marble powder–cement in view of the water absorption, apparent density, flexural strength as well as compressive strength.