Graphene Oxide-Modified ECC

22.5% higher tensile strength

Graphene oxide tailors the micromechanics of fly-ash ECC, improving early strength and self-healing while retaining ultra-high ductility.

Weizhe, Wu · Hawileh, Rami A. · Jamal A., Abdalla · Zhang, Zhigang

Construction and Building Materials 2026

Specifications

Compressive strength

{'zh': '68.6', 'en': '68.6'} MPa

Tensile strength

{'zh': '8.6', 'en': '8.6'} MPa

Ultra-high tensile strain

{'zh': '11', 'en': '11'} %

Average crack width

{'zh': '42.3', 'en': '42.3'} μm

Self-healing efficiency

{'zh': '88.2', 'en': '88.2'} %

PSH index increase

{'zh': '40', 'en': '40'} %

Advantages

Strength boost without ductility loss

At 0.03 wt% GO, tensile strength increases by 22.5% and compressive strength by 7.6%, while ultra-high tensile strain (>11%) is retained—no trade-off in ductility.

Finer multiple cracking

Average crack width drops from 68.7 μm to 42.3 μm, indicating a more distributed cracking pattern with finer cracks, which benefits durability and self-healing.

Robust self-healing

The modified ECC achieves 88.2% self-healing efficiency (based on sorptivity recovery), indicating strong crack closure ability and extended service life.

Densified fiber-matrix interface

GO's nucleation effect promotes hydration products and densifies the fiber/matrix ITZ, enhancing matrix fracture toughness and complementary energy.

Applications

• Self-healing concrete structures：Cracks self-close, reducing maintenance frequency
• Ductile cementitious composites：High ductility absorbs deformation, preventing brittle failure
• Smart construction and structures：Self-healing reduces need for manual inspection
• Advanced civil materials：Combines high performance with eco-friendly fly ash