Research Projects

Concrete constructions worldwide face the challenge of aging infrastructure and maintenance due to its pervious nature, which allows water and aggressive ions like chlorides and sulphates to penetrate easily. To protect concrete from these negative impacts, Surface Protection Materials are proposed to be developed using epoxy-based Nano-composite coatings. These coatings can form a dense layer on the surface of concrete after curing, preventing erosive medium penetration and enhancing its durability. However, previous studies have shown that epoxy coatings may not always be effective due to the slow penetration of aggressive ions. Graphene and its derivatives have been explored as nano-fillers for organic coatings due to their unique nanostructures, superior ion-diffusion barrier properties, large specific surface areas, and good compatibility with the polymer matrix. Graphene Oxide (GO) can achieve better dispersion in waterborne polymer matrix due to its carboxylic acid groups at their edges and epoxy and hydroxyl groups on the basal planes. Limited studies exist on enhancing the durability of concrete using graphene-based organic coatings. This project aims to develop Organo-modified Graphene-based Epoxy Coatings for concrete applications, using graphene derivatives made from in-house Coal-G instead of costly Graphite-G made from Hummers method. The proposed graphene-based epoxy coatings will be smart and self-healing, making them a game changer in the construction industry.