Enhancing properties of cement mortar with tyre-char derived graphene oxide: Mechanical and microstructural analysis
Weeraddhana, Chethana Himeshani Silva, Ngo, Tuan, Tuladhar, Rabin, and Jacob, Mohan V. (2025) Enhancing properties of cement mortar with tyre-char derived graphene oxide: Mechanical and microstructural analysis. Construction and Building Materials, 495. 143533.
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Abstract
Cement is one of the most widely used materials in the building industry due to its cost-effectiveness and availability. However, its performance limitations have prompted the incorporation of nanomaterials to improve mechanical and microstructural characteristics. Graphene oxide (GO) has shown significant potential as an additive, though its high-cost limits large-scale application. This study presents a sustainable approach to synthesise GO from waste tyre rubber using microwave-assisted pyrolysis (MAP), followed by characterisation through XRD, Raman spectroscopy, XPS, and SEM. The resulting tyre char-based GO (TC-GO) was incorporated into cement mortar at 0.01 %, 0.03 %, and 0.05 % by weight. For comparison, control samples and samples with only tyre char (TC) were also prepared. The results showed that workability decreased in both TC and TC-GO mixes due to particle agglomeration. Nevertheless, the addition of TC-GO had a greater positive effect on mechanical performance. At 28 days, the highest compressive strengths were reached by 0.01 % TC (29.0 MPa) and 0.03 % TC-GO (30.0 MPa), while the highest flexural strengths were found for 0.03 % TC (6.9 MPa) and 0.03 % TC-GO (7.6 MPa). The 0.03 % TC-GO sample performed the best overall, with a 15 % improvement in both strengths over the control. SEM and EDS analyses confirmed a denser microstructure and a reduced Ca/Si ratio (1.9 vs. 2.4 in control), indicating enhanced calcium silicate hydrate (C-S-H) formation. These findings highlight the potential of TC-GO as a low-cost, sustainable nanomaterial for improving the durability and mechanical performance of cement mortar.
| Item ID: | 88993 |
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| Item Type: | Article (Research - C1) |
| ISSN: | 0950-0618 |
| Keywords: | Cement mortar, Graphene Oxide, Mechanical Properties, Microstructure, Tyre-char |
| Copyright Information: | © 2025 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). |
| Date Deposited: | 09 Jul 2026 05:16 |
| FoR Codes: | 40 ENGINEERING > 4016 Materials engineering > 401602 Composite and hybrid materials @ 100% |
| SEO Codes: | 24 MANUFACTURING > 2403 Ceramics, glass and industrial mineral products > 240304 Composite materials @ 100% |
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