Enhancing recycled aggregate concrete with graphene quantum dots (GQDs): Refining wastes from construction demolitions and out-of-service railway sleepers
The disposal of construction and demolition waste (CDW) poses environmental challenges, whilst recycling CDW as coarse aggregate in concrete can help conserve natural resources. However, this often reduces strength and durability due to residues, increased porosity and the potential formation of ett...
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Elsevier
2025-10-01
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| Series: | Developments in the Built Environment |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666165925001292 |
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| author | Anand Raj Papassara Yamkasikorn Atichon Kunawisarut Chayut Ngamkhanong Pitcha Jongvivatsakul Lapyote Prasittisopin Joongjai Panpranot Sakdirat Kaewunruen |
| author_facet | Anand Raj Papassara Yamkasikorn Atichon Kunawisarut Chayut Ngamkhanong Pitcha Jongvivatsakul Lapyote Prasittisopin Joongjai Panpranot Sakdirat Kaewunruen |
| author_sort | Anand Raj |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The disposal of construction and demolition waste (CDW) poses environmental challenges, whilst recycling CDW as coarse aggregate in concrete can help conserve natural resources. However, this often reduces strength and durability due to residues, increased porosity and the potential formation of ettringite. Recent studies have demonstrated the potential of Graphene Quantum Dots (GQDs) to enhance the performance of cement composites, particularly by improving strength and durability. This study examines the use of recycled coarse aggregates from CDW and dismantled railway sleepers, combined with GQDs, to enhance concrete performance. Never have such the investigations been delved into before elsewhere. Eighteen concrete mixes with 25–100 % recycled aggregates were tested, with and without 0.3 % GQDs (by weight of cement). Mechanical properties (compressive and flexural strength) and durability (water absorption, chloride penetration) were evaluated. Microstructural analysis via FESEM and EDS assessed concrete behaviour. Our new findings reveal that using recycled aggregates from random sources led to a reduction in both compressive and flexural strengths by 21.7 % and 18.2 % respectively, primarily due to increased porosity and ettringite formation. However, the addition of GQDs improved both compressive and flexural strengths by about 15 % by promoting the formation of calcium silicate hydrate (C-S-H) gel. Concrete incorporating recycled aggregates from used railway sleepers exhibited a smaller reduction in compressive strength, up to 11 %. The reduction in flexural strength was also lower, reaching up to 7 %. Microstructural analysis revealed that GQDs facilitated the formation of crystalline precipitates, thereby enhancing both the strength and durability of the concrete. Overall, our new insights suggest that incorporating GQDs into concrete with recycled aggregates not only helps conserve environmental resources but also enhances overall material performance. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-ae49e2c90f1547829ecf24cb09b3d010 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2666-1659 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-10-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Developments in the Built Environment |
| spelling | doaj-art-ae49e2c90f1547829ecf24cb09b3d0102025-08-20T03:57:58ZengElsevierDevelopments in the Built Environment2666-16592025-10-012310072910.1016/j.dibe.2025.100729Enhancing recycled aggregate concrete with graphene quantum dots (GQDs): Refining wastes from construction demolitions and out-of-service railway sleepersAnand Raj0Papassara Yamkasikorn1Atichon Kunawisarut2Chayut Ngamkhanong3Pitcha Jongvivatsakul4Lapyote Prasittisopin5Joongjai Panpranot6Sakdirat Kaewunruen7Advanced Railway Infrastructure, Innovation and Systems Engineering (ARIISE) Research Unit, Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 10330, ThailandAdvanced Railway Infrastructure, Innovation and Systems Engineering (ARIISE) Research Unit, Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 10330, ThailandCenter of Excellence in Innovative Construction Materials, Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 10330, ThailandAdvanced Railway Infrastructure, Innovation and Systems Engineering (ARIISE) Research Unit, Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand; GreenTech Nexus: Research Center for Sustainable Construction Innovation, Faculty of Engineering, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand; Corresponding author. Advanced Railway Infrastructure, Innovation and Systems Engineering (ARIISE) Research Unit, Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand.Center of Excellence in Innovative Construction Materials, Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand; GreenTech Nexus: Research Center for Sustainable Construction Innovation, Faculty of Engineering, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 10330, ThailandCenter of Excellence on Green Tech in Architecture, Department of Architecture, Faculty of Architecture, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 10330, ThailandCenter of Excellence on Catalysis and Catalytic Reaction Engineering, Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 10330, ThailandDepartment of Civil Engineering, School of Engineering, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT, United KingdomThe disposal of construction and demolition waste (CDW) poses environmental challenges, whilst recycling CDW as coarse aggregate in concrete can help conserve natural resources. However, this often reduces strength and durability due to residues, increased porosity and the potential formation of ettringite. Recent studies have demonstrated the potential of Graphene Quantum Dots (GQDs) to enhance the performance of cement composites, particularly by improving strength and durability. This study examines the use of recycled coarse aggregates from CDW and dismantled railway sleepers, combined with GQDs, to enhance concrete performance. Never have such the investigations been delved into before elsewhere. Eighteen concrete mixes with 25–100 % recycled aggregates were tested, with and without 0.3 % GQDs (by weight of cement). Mechanical properties (compressive and flexural strength) and durability (water absorption, chloride penetration) were evaluated. Microstructural analysis via FESEM and EDS assessed concrete behaviour. Our new findings reveal that using recycled aggregates from random sources led to a reduction in both compressive and flexural strengths by 21.7 % and 18.2 % respectively, primarily due to increased porosity and ettringite formation. However, the addition of GQDs improved both compressive and flexural strengths by about 15 % by promoting the formation of calcium silicate hydrate (C-S-H) gel. Concrete incorporating recycled aggregates from used railway sleepers exhibited a smaller reduction in compressive strength, up to 11 %. The reduction in flexural strength was also lower, reaching up to 7 %. Microstructural analysis revealed that GQDs facilitated the formation of crystalline precipitates, thereby enhancing both the strength and durability of the concrete. Overall, our new insights suggest that incorporating GQDs into concrete with recycled aggregates not only helps conserve environmental resources but also enhances overall material performance.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666165925001292Graphene quantum dotRecycled aggregatesConstruction demolition wasteConcreteMechanical propertiesDurability |
| spellingShingle | Anand Raj Papassara Yamkasikorn Atichon Kunawisarut Chayut Ngamkhanong Pitcha Jongvivatsakul Lapyote Prasittisopin Joongjai Panpranot Sakdirat Kaewunruen Enhancing recycled aggregate concrete with graphene quantum dots (GQDs): Refining wastes from construction demolitions and out-of-service railway sleepers Developments in the Built Environment Graphene quantum dot Recycled aggregates Construction demolition waste Concrete Mechanical properties Durability |
| title | Enhancing recycled aggregate concrete with graphene quantum dots (GQDs): Refining wastes from construction demolitions and out-of-service railway sleepers |
| title_full | Enhancing recycled aggregate concrete with graphene quantum dots (GQDs): Refining wastes from construction demolitions and out-of-service railway sleepers |
| title_fullStr | Enhancing recycled aggregate concrete with graphene quantum dots (GQDs): Refining wastes from construction demolitions and out-of-service railway sleepers |
| title_full_unstemmed | Enhancing recycled aggregate concrete with graphene quantum dots (GQDs): Refining wastes from construction demolitions and out-of-service railway sleepers |
| title_short | Enhancing recycled aggregate concrete with graphene quantum dots (GQDs): Refining wastes from construction demolitions and out-of-service railway sleepers |
| title_sort | enhancing recycled aggregate concrete with graphene quantum dots gqds refining wastes from construction demolitions and out of service railway sleepers |
| topic | Graphene quantum dot Recycled aggregates Construction demolition waste Concrete Mechanical properties Durability |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666165925001292 |
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