Mathematical and experimental insights into acid-resistant enhancements: Graphene plates' influence on rubber-incorporated cementitious materials

To mitigate the strength loss of rubberised cementitious materials, either concrete or mortar, graphene plates were incorporated. Limited studies have highlighted significant strength enhancement in rubberised cementitious materials incorporating graphene plates under non-acidic conditions. However, a notable gap persists in their performance when exposed to harsh conditions, particularly those induced by acid attack. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the inclusion of graphene plates, alongside Arabic gum as a surfactant for graphene dispersion, on the acid resistance of rubberised mortar exposed to sulphuric acid (H₂SO₄). One purpose of this study was to experimentally examine their behaviour through visual inspection, compressive strength measurement, and weight loss analysis. The second purpose was to utilise response surface methodology for prediction, optimisation, and developing two quadratic equations for further exploration. The results exhibit a strong alignment between equations and experimental data, with a coefficient of variation below 2.8 % and an impressive R-squared value of 0.99, confirming their reliability and accuracy. Additionally, the proposed mortar incorporating graphene plates and rubber demonstrates superior resistance to acid attacks. Even with up to an 18 % increase in rubber content, it shows reduced strength and weight losses of 47.1 % and 25.2 % after 40 days, respectively, compared to the control mixture's losses of 62.1 % and 33.6 %. It can be concluded that the remarkable results obtained for graphene-based rubberised cementitious material hold promise for real-world applications, particularly where resistance to energy absorption and penetration by aggressive agents is required such concrete pavement.