Efficiency of graphene-based rubberized cementitious material for thermal behavior: An experimental and theoretical approach

• RHODAFAC RM 510 dispersed graphene plates effectively, achieving an absorbance of 3.8. • Rubber and graphene interaction synergistically enhance thermal conductivity, with a coefficient of 0.08 and p -value <0.0018, emphasizing graphene's dominant role. • A 0.5 % graphene concentration was found to be optimal for achieving acceptable thermal conductivity in rubberized mortar. • Predictive models showed high accuracy (R² > 0.9), providing precise estimations and saving time and costs. In recent years, the thermal behavior of cementitious materials has drawn significant attention due to its potential impact on energy savings. While numerous studies have investigated the individual effects of additives like rubber or graphene plates on the thermal performance of cementitious materials, their thermal behaviors conflict, stemming from the differing phonon transport mechanisms of graphene and rubber. Moreover, the combined impact of these materials and their optimal proportions remains unexplored. This study employs experimental and optimization modeling to systematically investigates the thermal behavior of cementitious materials incorporating a hybrid combination of rubber and graphene plates. The first objective is to optimize the thermal conductivity of mortar by incorporating rubber as a partial replacement for fine aggregate (4 %–18 % by volume) and graphene plates (0.0 %–0.8 % by binder weight). Graphene dispersion was achieved using the novel surfactant RHODAFAC RM 510. The second objective is to assess the thermal resistance of the optimized hybrid rubberized mortar at moderate temperatures (200 °C–400 °C). The findings highlight a synergistic interaction between rubber and graphene on thermal conductivity, evidenced by a positive coefficient estimate of 0.08 and a statistically significant p -value (<0.0018), emphasizing the dominant role of graphene platelets. The optimal proportions of graphene (0.5 %) and rubber (10 %) resulted in an acceptable thermal conductivity of 1.49 W/m·K, which is slightly lower than that of the control (1.506 W/m·K). This combination also significantly enhanced thermal resistance, achieving a compressive strength of 47.6 MPa at 380 °C, compared to 36.46 MPa for mortar cured at ambient temperature. These findings highlight the potential of graphene-based rubberized concrete for future energy-efficient building applications.