ADMIXTURES AND SUSTAINABILITY

It is imperative to foresee the development of any material and civil engineering structure within a sustainable development perspective. Up to now, admixtures have only been considered as chemical products that can improve certain physico-chemical aspects of fresh or hardened concrete. It is now time to consider the significant role that such chemicals can play in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and increasing the life cycle of concrete structures. When properly used, the contribution of admixtures can be as significant as that of supplementary cementitious materials in reducing the emission of green house gases and in increasing the life cycle of concrete structures. In this paper, the benefits of using dispersants (water-reducers, midrange water-reducers and superplasticizers), as well as air entraining agents will be emphasized.

• INTRODUCTION

• ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT OF CONCRETE

• THE KEY TO DURABILITY

• THE FLOCCULATION OF CEMENT PARTICLES

• THE PLASTICIZING EFFECT OF ENTRAINED AIR

• ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES OF THE REDUCTION OF THE WATER/CEMENT RATIO

• CONCLUSIONS

• REFERENCES