Synergistic Effect of Carbon-Based Reinforcements on the Mechanical Properties of Cement-Based Composites

Carbon reinforcements are used to improve the mechanical properties of cement, allowing the preparation of a strengthened and toughened composite. Functionalization through a reaction with acid is necessary to guarantee both a good dispersion in water and a strong interaction with cement. Different functionalized reinforcements improve the mechanical properties of the composites in comparison with pristine cement. The use of a combination of carbon fibers, carbon nanotubes, and graphene nanoplatelets were analyzed in order to verify their synergistic effect. The use of functionalized carbon nanotubes and carbon fibers demonstrates an improvement of 71% in flexural strength and 540% in fracture energy.