Use of graphene nanoplatelet in engineered geopolymer composite

Geopolymer, as a cementless binder, has been receiving considerable attention in recent years. However, the inherently brittle characteristics of geopolymer products, such as geopolymer concrete, cause the structural elements to be susceptible to cracking under tensile and flexural loads. Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) fibre was used to develop engineered geopolymer composites (EGC), based on the micromechanics-based design method, to achieve the tensile strain capacity about 3-5%. Also, the incorporation of GNP, a carbon-based nanomaterial possessing excellent chemical and physical properties, into geopolymer paste or mortar improved their Young’s modulus, tensile strength, flexural strength and flexural toughness. This thesis presents a research study on the use of GNP and fibre to reinforce geopolymer paste or mortar and proposes a new type of engineered geopolymer composites with graphene nanoplatelet (EGC-GNP).