Graphene-Derived Reinforced Polymer Composites for Self-Healing and Durability Enhancement in Concrete Structures

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nThis is an unedited manuscript accepted for publication and provided as an Article in Press for early access at the author’s request. The article will undergo copyediting, typesetting, and galley proof review before final publication. Please be aware that errors may be identified during production that could affect the content. All legal disclaimers of the journal apply.n

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Year : 2025 [if 2224 equals=””]09/10/2025 at 4:19 PM[/if 2224] | [if 1553 equals=””] Volume : 13 [else] Volume : 13[/if 1553] | [if 424 equals=”Regular Issue”]Issue : [/if 424][if 424 equals=”Special Issue”]Special Issue[/if 424] [if 424 equals=”Conference”][/if 424] 06 | Page : 77 91

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    V. Ravi Raj, Neethi Madhavan C.S, Bikash Chandra Saha, Manu Vijay, D. Sudha, S. Sivakumar, R. M. Karthikeyan, Shailendra Kumar Bohidar, Zakir Hussain,

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  1. Associate Professor, Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, Associate Professor, Associate Professor, Professor, Associate Professor, Associate Professor, Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Sri Sairam Engineering College, Chennai, Department of Aeronautical Engineering, Rajadhani Institute of Engineering and Technology, Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Cambridge Institute of Technology, Ranchi, Department of Civil Engineering, ATME College of Engineering, Mysore, Department of Physics, R.M.K. Engineering College, Department of Chemistry, Varuvan Vadivelan Institute of Technology, Dharmapuri, Department of Civil Engineering, SNS College of Technology, Coimbatore, Department of Mechanical Engineering, School of Engineering & I.T, MATS University, Raipur, Department of Chemical Technology, Loyola Academy, Secunderabad, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Tamil Nadu, Tamil Nadu, Chhattisgarh, Telangana, India, India, India, India, India, India, India, India, India

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Abstract

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nThis study presents a matrix-centric polymer-composite repair binder: an epoxy–polyamide network reinforced with graphene derivatives (GO/rGO, 0.1–1.0 wt%). The polymer drives function via segmental mobility that closes microcracks, while 2D-filler topology densifies the interphase, improves load transfer, and enforces tortuous moisture pathways. Adhesion was high: pull-off (ASTM D4541) reached 13.5 MPa at 2.0 mm displacement; slant-shear (ASTM C882) reached 12.1 MPa at 2.8 mm, with greater deformation capacity (zero stress ~5.6 mm) and higher work-to-failure (~45.17 MPa·mm) than pull-off (~36.00 MPa·mm), evidencing polymer ductility and filler-mediated bridging under mixed-mode loading. Water permeability (EN 12390-8, 0.5 MPa, 72 h) plateaued at ~7.3 mm, with average ingress rates dropping from ~0.236 to ~0.053 to ~0.015 mm h⁻¹ across 0–24, 24–48, and 48–72 h, consistent with pore blocking and microcrack self-sealing within the composite interphase. Pre-cracked specimens (~0.2 ± 0.05 mm) recovered ~35% strength by day 1, ~78% by day 5, and ~92% by day 7 at 25 °C/60% RH, confirming polymer-enabled healing assisted by filler percolation across crack wakes. SEM revealed uniform filler dispersion, polymer fibrils bridging microcracks, and a dense, low-void interphase; EDS and mapping indicated O (~40 wt%), Si (~25 wt%), Ca (~15 wt%), and C (~20 wt%) with Si-rich streaks along crack corridors. Overall, this polymer-composite binder couples high adhesion, low permeability, and autonomous healing to extend durability under wet or cyclic service.nn

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Keywords: Polymer-composite, graphene, adhesion, micro-cracks, self-healing.

n[if 424 equals=”Regular Issue”][This article belongs to Journal of Polymer and Composites ]

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How to cite this article:
nV. Ravi Raj, Neethi Madhavan C.S, Bikash Chandra Saha, Manu Vijay, D. Sudha, S. Sivakumar, R. M. Karthikeyan, Shailendra Kumar Bohidar, Zakir Hussain. [if 2584 equals=”][226 wpautop=0 striphtml=1][else]Graphene-Derived Reinforced Polymer Composites for Self-Healing and Durability Enhancement in Concrete Structures[/if 2584]. Journal of Polymer and Composites. 13/09/2025; 13(06):77-91.

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How to cite this URL:
nV. Ravi Raj, Neethi Madhavan C.S, Bikash Chandra Saha, Manu Vijay, D. Sudha, S. Sivakumar, R. M. Karthikeyan, Shailendra Kumar Bohidar, Zakir Hussain. [if 2584 equals=”][226 striphtml=1][else]Graphene-Derived Reinforced Polymer Composites for Self-Healing and Durability Enhancement in Concrete Structures[/if 2584]. Journal of Polymer and Composites. 13/09/2025; 13(06):77-91. Available from: https://journals.stmjournals.com/jopc/article=13/09/2025/view=0

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Volume 13
[if 424 equals=”Regular Issue”]Issue[/if 424][if 424 equals=”Special Issue”]Special Issue[/if 424] [if 424 equals=”Conference”][/if 424] 06
Received 22/08/2025
Accepted 03/09/2025
Published 13/09/2025
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Publication Time 22 Days

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