Of Concrete Admixtures | Science And Technology

Achieving compressive strengths over 100 MPa—strong enough to build the world’s tallest skyscrapers, like the Burj Khalifa . The Modern Toolkit: 7 Essential Powers

Through the science of admixtures, what was once a gray paste has become a high-tech material capable of reaching the clouds, lasting centuries, and—hopefully—protecting the planet.

The history of admixtures is as old as the Roman Empire . Long before modern chemistry, Roman builders experimented with organic "potions" to make their concrete more workable and durable. They added , blood , and eggs to their mixes. These proteins acted as primitive air-entraining agents, helping the concrete withstand freeze-thaw cycles and making it easier for laborers to pour into the massive forms of the Pantheon. The Chemical Revolution: Master of Flow