NanoTechCrete is our graphene concrete additive. The graphene is already pre-mixed in a water-based liquid, so there is no powder to handle. These instructions show you how much to use and how to mix it, for a bag of concrete, a bag of Portland cement or a full cubic yard.
The dose is 5% of the cement weight. At that dose, independent third-party testing in 2023 measured 67% higher compressive strength than the same mix without NanoTechCrete. NanoTechCrete is made in the USA, in Charlotte, NC, and is patent pending.
What you need
- NanoTechCrete (shake or stir the container before measuring)
- Your cement or bagged concrete mix, and clean water
- A scale (a kitchen scale in grams works for single bags)
- A bucket for the water, a mixer or mixing tub, gloves and eye protection
The two rules
| NanoTechCrete | Cement weight × 0.05 (5% of the cement, not 5% of the whole mix) |
|---|---|
| Total liquid | Cement weight × 0.45 (water plus NanoTechCrete together) |
| Water to add | Total liquid minus the NanoTechCrete weight |
NanoTechCrete is water-based (about 8.6 lb per gallon), so it counts as part of your mix water. Cut the water by the weight of NanoTechCrete you add, so the mix doesn't come out too wet.
How to mix NanoTechCrete: step by step
- Weigh the NanoTechCrete. Use 5% of the cement weight. Use the tables below or the rule above.
- Measure all of your mix water. Use the reduced amount: total liquid minus the NanoTechCrete weight.
- Stir the NanoTechCrete into the water. Pour it into the full bucket of mix water and stir until the color is even all the way through.
- Add the liquid to the dry mix. Pour the NanoTechCrete water into your dry mix (cement, sand and stone, or the bagged mix).
- Mix for 5 to 10 minutes, until the concrete looks the same all the way through. Scrape the sides and bottom once.
- Place, finish and cure as normal. Keep the concrete damp while it cures, the same way you would without NanoTechCrete.
Example: premixed concrete bags (50 lb and 80 lb)
These bags already have sand, gravel and cement in them. The bag doesn't print how much cement is inside, so these numbers are an estimate based on a standard 1:2:3 mix (1 part cement, 2 parts sand, 3 parts gravel), so the cement is about 1/6 of the bag weight.
| Per bag | 50 lb bag | 80 lb bag |
|---|---|---|
| Estimated cement in the bag | about 8.3 lb | about 13.3 lb |
| NanoTechCrete (5% of cement) | 0.42 lb (189 g), about ¾ cup | 0.67 lb (302 g), about 1¼ cups |
| Total liquid (0.45 × cement) | 3.75 lb | 6.0 lb |
| Water to add | 3.33 lb, about 6½ cups (0.4 gal) | 5.33 lb, about 10¼ cups (0.64 gal) |
If the bag gives its own water amount, use the bag's amount and take away the NanoTechCrete weight (for example, 0.67 lb less water for an 80 lb bag). For small amounts, weigh the NanoTechCrete in grams; the cup amounts are a guide only.
Example: Portland cement bags (no sand or gravel)
Use this for cement paste, grout or any job that doesn't want aggregate. The whole bag is cement, so the numbers are exact.
| Per bag | 50 lb bag | 80 lb bag |
|---|---|---|
| Cement | 50 lb | 80 lb |
| NanoTechCrete (5% of cement) | 2.5 lb (1,134 g), about 0.29 gal | 4.0 lb (1,814 g), about 0.47 gal |
| Total liquid (0.45 × cement) | 22.5 lb | 36.0 lb |
| Water to add | 20.0 lb, about 2.4 gal | 32.0 lb, about 3.8 gal |
A standard full US bag of Portland cement is 94 lb: use 4.7 lb NanoTechCrete (about 0.55 gal), 42.3 lb total liquid and 37.6 lb water (about 4.5 gal).
Example: 1 cubic yard of concrete
Based on a 1:2:3 mix with 670 lb of cement per yard.
| Ingredient | Without NanoTechCrete | With NanoTechCrete |
|---|---|---|
| Portland cement | 670 lb | 670 lb |
| Sand | 1,340 lb | 1,340 lb |
| Stone | 2,010 lb | 2,010 lb |
| NanoTechCrete | none | 33.5 lb, about 3.9 gal |
| Water | 301.5 lb, about 36 gal | 268 lb, about 32 gal |
The rule for any size
NanoTechCrete = cement lb × 0.05. Water = (cement lb × 0.45) − NanoTechCrete lb. Example: 10 lb of cement takes 0.5 lb NanoTechCrete and 4.0 lb water.
Safety and tips
- Wear gloves and eye protection. Wet cement and concrete can burn skin and eyes. Follow the SDS supplied with NanoTechCrete.
- Cure as normal. Keep the concrete damp and protected while it cures.
- Run a small trial batch first, especially on a new mix or a structural job, and compare it with the same mix without NanoTechCrete.
- Keep NanoTechCrete in its closed container until you use it.
Results vary with mix design, materials, dose and curing. These instructions are a general guide and don't replace proper mix design, engineering review or applicable building codes.
Questions or a larger job?
Contact Graphene Integrations in Charlotte, NC: frans@grapheneintegrations.com or +1 (704) 659-3682. See the graphene concrete additive page for the test results.