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Enhanced strength in novel nanocomposites prepared by reinforcing graphene in red soil and fly ash bricks

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Abstract

Low-dimensional nanomaterials such as graphene can be used as a reinforcing agent in building materials to enhance the strength and durability. Common building materials burnt red soil bricks and fly ash bricks were reinforced with various amounts of graphene, and the effect of graphene on the strength of these newly developed nanocomposites was studied. The fly ash brick nanocomposite samples were cured as per their standard curing time, and the burnt red soil brick nanocomposite samples were merely dried in the sun instead of being subjected to the traditional heat treatment for days to achieve sufficient strength. The water absorption ability of the fly ash bricks was also discussed. The compressive strength of all of the graphene-reinforced nanocomposite samples was tested, along with that of some standard (without graphene) composite samples with the same dimensions, to evaluate the effects of the addition of various amounts of graphene on the compressive strength of the bricks.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Dr. Sukadev Sahoo, Department of Physics, National Institute of Technology Durgapur, for his constant guidance and financial support for carrying out this work. We would also like to thank Dr. Supriya Pal, Dr. A.K. Samanta, and Mr. Ram Bagdi, Department of Civil Engineering, National Institute of Technology Durgapur, for providing laboratory access and assistance with testing the samples. We also acknowledge the Centre of Excellence, Technical Education Quality Improvement Programme (Phase II), National Institute of Technology Durgapur, for providing partial assistance for the preparation of graphene samples. We would also like to thank Mr. Debabrata Mandal at Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, for his fruitful discussions regarding the SEM images.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, 721302, West Bengal, India

    Jit Sarkar

  2. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology (Indian School of Mines), Dhanbad, 826004, Jharkhand, India

    D. K. Das

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  1. Jit Sarkar
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Sarkar, J., Das, D.K. Enhanced strength in novel nanocomposites prepared by reinforcing graphene in red soil and fly ash bricks. Int J Miner Metall Mater 26, 1322–1328 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12613-019-1835-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12613-019-1835-4

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