Over the last fifteen years, the development of concrete technology has been immense. A large part of this growth comes from the increased use of chemical additives, which have also experienced significant expansion. The authors attempt to present a comprehensive overview of the application of chemical additives in concrete technology. Their effort has focused on preparing a handbook for everyday practice.

The book is divided into two parts: Part I covers the basic and fundamental information about concrete and its main components (cement, water, aggregates). It also includes two chapters, one on natural additives (pozzolana, fly ash, silica fume) and one on sprayed concrete. Part I is based on European Standards (EN), without neglecting ASTM standards when necessary. For foreign readers, a table correlating EN and ASTM standards is provided at the end of Part I.

Part II addresses chemical additives. It covers the most important types, their usage, as well as general chemical and performance characteristics. Part II is based on European standards and definitions published by EFCA.