The Chemical Characterization of Admixtures For Cement Concrete

Although the Belgian standards provide for quality control of idrnixtures for cement concrete, it is interesting to complement his information by a more thorough chemical identification. this makes it possible to increase the economic advantages vhich result from their use. nfrared spectrographic investigation, which enables the ategory of basic chemical constituents - and, possibly, the vay they are mixed - to be determined, is followed by the dentification of the chemical nature of the major mineral con-tituents by means of emission spectrometry, using the "knowndditions" method. Total sulphur and sulphates are determined'y gravimetry and chlorides by titrimetry.'he interpretation of these measurements leads to a sure iden-ification of the nature of the admixture and to the detection ofonstituents that adversely affect the behaviour of cement con-rete.