By Samudrapom DamReviewed by Susha Cheriyedath, M.Sc.Updated on Nov 27 2024
Graphene, a remarkable two-dimensional material made up of sp2 hybridized carbon atoms arranged in a hexagonal lattice, is making waves in the construction industry thanks to its unique properties.1
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Its incredible mechanical strength allows for significant improvements in concrete, making it up to 2.5 times stronger and four times less permeable to water than traditional concrete. This means that structures can be built using less material without compromising safety or durability, potentially cutting CO2 emissions by as much as 30 %.
Beyond strength, graphene's excellent thermal and electrical conductivity can enhance energy efficiency in buildings through innovative coatings and additives. Its ability to conduct electricity also opens the door to smart infrastructure, where embedded sensors can monitor the health of structures in real-time. Additionally, graphene's resistance to corrosion makes it an ideal protective coating for various materials, helping them last longer.
The versatility of graphene inspires exciting applications like self-heating walls and de-icing systems for roads. With its potential in 3D printing, graphene-enhanced materials are set to transform the way we build, leading to stronger, more sustainable, and technologically advanced solutions for the future.1
Graphene in the Construction Industry
Graphene and graphene-based materials play a significant role in the construction industry, offering innovative solutions to enhance various building components. For instance, graphene and its derivatives can influence the microstructure and composition of materials such as thermal and acoustic insulators, anti-corrosion coatings, cement, firefighting materials, and asphalt, ultimately improving their mechanical and physical characteristics.
These graphene-enhanced materials can also serve as reinforcement elements. The addition of graphene to building materials enhances flexibility, hardness, mechanical strength, and durability. In asphalt preparation, incorporating graphene has led to notable improvements in thermal, physical, and mechanical properties. Similarly, graphene-based cementitious composites enable smarter functionality in buildings by enhancing key features such as resistance to carbonation, sulfates, and chlorides, thereby extending the lifespan of concrete.
Graphene-based materials like reduced graphene oxide and graphene oxide, along with their composites, are recognized for their excellent thermal insulation and fire-retardant properties. They also serve as effective composites for energy storage and harvesting, as well as acoustic insulators.
Additionally, using graphene-loaded building materials can contribute to reducing carbon dioxide emissions within a circular economy framework. However, while developing optimized construction materials for specific applications, it is essential to consider factors such as uniform dispersion, compatibility, stability, and modification.
As research progresses and technology evolves, the integration of graphene into construction practices promises to lead to stronger, more efficient, and environmentally friendly buildings.2
Graphene: The Material of the Future?
Applications of Graphene
Graphene Cement
Graphene has become a key material in cement composites, enhancing both strength and functionality. By incorporating graphene or graphene oxide into the cement matrix, researchers have observed significant improvements in flexural strength and durability. Functionalized graphene nanosheets, for instance, form cross-links with the cement matrix, reinforcing its structural integrity. Studies have also shown that using pristine graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) and graphene oxide nanoplatelets (GONPs) can increase the compressive strength of mortar by 10.2 % to 19.9 % compared to traditional mixtures.
Beyond these mechanical benefits, graphene introduces innovative features such as self-cleaning properties and pollutant degradation, enabling the creation of "eco-concrete." This advanced material has the potential to improve air quality and reduce environmental impact, making it ideal for use in areas where pollution control and sustainability are critical.3
Protective Paints
Graphene oxide, a versatile derivative of graphene, has unlocked new possibilities in protective paints. Its functionalized structure, enriched with oxygen-based moieties, allows it to form impermeable layers that protect surfaces from air, water, and corrosive agents. Graphene-based nano-paints synthesized through ball milling have demonstrated exceptional corrosion resistance, achieving up to 88.7 % inhibition efficiency in acidic conditions and 76.61 % protection in saline environments.
Furthermore, hybrid coatings combining graphene oxide with materials such as zinc oxide and carbon nanocomposites enhance durability by resisting cracking, scratching, and oil or water leaching. These advanced formulations not only shield surfaces effectively but also offer added functionality, such as thermal and electrical conductivity, expanding their use in industrial and architectural applications.
Spray-on Solar Panels
The unique properties of graphene—such as optical transparency, high conductivity, and superior charge carrier mobility—make it a valuable material for advancing solar technology. Integrating graphene into spray-on solar panels has the potential to double energy conversion efficiency compared to traditional panels. These lightweight, flexible panels eliminate the need for bulky installations and expensive labor, offering a streamlined and cost-effective solution for harnessing solar energy. This innovation could significantly simplify the adoption of solar power across various applications.
Asphalt
GNPs, including expanded graphite nanosheets (xGNP) and flake graphite (FG), are revolutionizing asphalt modification. Incorporating xGNP into asphalt mixtures enhances essential properties such as viscoelasticity, anti-rutting performance, and low-temperature crack resistance. For instance, asphalt blended with 2 % xGNP and 5 % FG not only improves self-healing capabilities but also significantly reduces electrical resistivity, making it suitable for applications requiring enhanced conductivity.
Additionally, xGNP modifications increase the viscosity of asphalt, ensuring better performance under diverse environmental conditions. These advancements extend the lifespan of asphalt pavements while reducing maintenance costs, offering a sustainable and high-performance alternative for modern infrastructure.4
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Recent Advances
Recent research has made significant strides in the integration of graphene into cement-based materials, enhancing their properties and reducing costs.
A study published in Construction and Building Materials introduced a novel strategy for the in-situ growth of graphene within the cement matrix using carbonization and calcination techniques. This approach utilized glucose as a low-cost carbon source to produce advanced graphene cement composites. The results demonstrated that this method achieved uniform dispersion of graphene in the cement matrix, leading to impressive increases in flexural and compressive strength by 48.9 % and 38 %, respectively, compared to pure cement. Furthermore, the cost of this proposed method was only 14 % of current commercial prices for graphene-based materials, making it a highly economical option for construction applications.5
Another study, published in Sustainability, proposed a novel technique for producing few-layer graphene (FLG) that could meet the construction industry's material demands. By adding FLG at just 0.10 %-0.15 % of cement weight, researchers observed significant enhancements in both flexural and compressive strength, further showcasing graphene's transformative potential in cementitious materials.6
Latest Breakthroughs in Graphene Research
Conclusion and Future Outlook
In conclusion, graphene and its derivatives have shown great promise in improving the properties of construction materials, particularly in cement, asphalt, and protective coatings. Their incorporation leads to improved mechanical strength, durability, and environmental performance, making them a valuable addition to the construction industry.
With continued research and innovation, graphene-based materials could transform the way we build, creating stronger, more sustainable infrastructure. The key to unlocking this potential lies in finding practical ways to scale up production, improve how graphene blends into materials, and ensure its stability across different applications. As these hurdles are overcome and the technology becomes more accessible, graphene-enhanced materials are likely to play a major role in creating energy-efficient, eco-friendly construction solutions that shape the future of our cities and communities.
References and Further Reading
- George, J., Bhattacharyya, D. (2023). Graphene: an introduction. Recent Advances in Graphene and Graphene-Based Technologies. DOI: 10.1088/978-0-7503-3999-5ch1, https://iopscience.iop.org/book/edit/978-0-7503-3999-5/chapter/bk978-0-7503-3999-5ch1
- Asim, N. et al. (2022). Application of graphene-based materials in developing sustainable infrastructure: An overview. Composites Part B: Engineering, 245, 110188. DOI: 10.1016/j.compositesb.2022.110188, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1359836822005625
- Sahoo, S. (2019). Graphene in the Domain of Construction: A Review of Applications and Prospects. Sustainable Construction and Building Materials: Select Proceedings of ICSCBM 2018, 325-334. DOI: 10.1007/978-981-13-3317-0_30, https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-981-13-3317-0_30
- Han, M., Muhammad, Y., Wei, Y., Zhu, Z., Huang, J., Li, J. (2021). A review on the development and application of graphene based materials for the fabrication of modified asphalt and cement. Construction and Building Materials, 285, 122885. DOI: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2021.122885, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0950061821006450
- Yao, Y., Zhang, Z., Liu, H., Zhuge, Y., Zhang, D. (2022). A new in-situ growth strategy to achieve high performance graphene-based cement material. Construction and Building Materials, 335, 127451. DOI: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2022.127451, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S095006182201128X
- Polverino, S., Esau, A., Brencich, A., Marasco, L., Bonaccorso, F., Morbiducci, R. (2022). Few-Layers Graphene-Based Cement Mortars: Production Process and Mechanical Properties. Sustainability, 14(2), 784. DOI: 10.3390/su14020784, https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/2/784
- Glorious graphene and its revolutionary applications for construction [Online] Available at https://www.thenbs.com/knowledge/glorious-graphene-and-its-revolutionary-applications-for-construction
- Graphene-based composite materials [Online] Available at https://www.graphene.manchester.ac.uk/learn/applications/composites-and-coatings/
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