Graphene Additives Effect on Mechanical and Structural Characterization Properties of Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA) and Boron Based Cement Mortar

In this study, it was aimed to develop properties of cement paste having standard properties and produce a graphene doped Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA) and boron-based cement paste in this context. This type of special cement is mixed with PVA as polymer additive material so it can have a higher strength and sufficient elasticity per unit weight. Also, boric acid which can absorb neutrons having poisonous effect in nuclear reactions is added into the cement in order to minimize environmental disaster caused by a nuclear accident. Compressive and bending strengths were measured based on TSE tests of graphene doped PVA and boron-based cement paste. Then, samples were measured by Brunauer-Emmett-Teller Method (BET) and subjected to X-ray Diffraction (XRD). In XRD measurements, crystalline structure was observed in all materials. According to compressive strength tests, as the graphene amount increases compressive strength also increases, however in bending strength tests as the graphene amount increases bending strength decreases. Although the values of bending strength of samples produced decreased with increase of graphene content, these values were found to be above the standard values. In addition to boron, graphene admixture has a significant effect on material with its positive strength properties.