How to Improve Concrete Using Additives?
- Novakem
- Feb 19
- 6 min read
A complete (and practical) guide to increasing strength, workability, and durability — with solutions from Novakem.
In the construction industry, few things are as "silently expensive" as concrete that doesn't perform well : it loses slump along the way, pumps poorly, segregates, requires water on site, cracks too early, and becomes a maintenance issue even before the client inaugurates the building.
The good news: in most cases, it's not a lack of cement . It's a lack of performance engineering , that is: a well-defined mix design + control of the water/cement ratio + correct chemical additives + validation through testing .
In this article, you will see how high-performance concrete additives (with solutions from Novakem ) address the most common construction pain points with technical logic, reference data, and a roadmap for consistent application.
1) Why "adding more cement" is not a strategy. It's a cost.
The strength and durability of concrete are much more sensitive to:
Water/cement ratio (w/c)
Particle size distribution of aggregates
Air content, thickening and curing
Cement dispersion and workability over time (real logistics)
When a project "needs water" to improve workability, you gain temporary fluidity... and pay with:
greater porosity/permeability
greater shrinkage and risk of cracking
loss of resistance and variability in technological control
loss of durability (the pathology thanks you)
Additives come in exactly here: they improve rheology and performance without sacrificing air/cooling , helping you achieve durability, productivity, and lifespan.
2) What are concrete additives — and what do they actually do?
Chemical additives are technologies applied in small doses that alter the properties of concrete in both its fresh and hardened states. When properly specified, they deliver:
reducing water while maintaining (or increasing) workability
improved pumpability and finish.
control of the catch (advance or delay)
Reduced shrinkage (fewer cracks)
greater durability (lower permeability and better protection in harsh environments)
Novakem Indústria Química works with concrete additive solutions focused precisely on this performance package: productivity with control, not improvisation.
3) Main pain points in construction — and how Novakem concrete additives solve them (in practice)
Below is a typical "pain map" for a construction site/plant and solutions by function.
The slump dies in the truck.
Common symptoms
The decline drops quickly.
difficulty in launching and finishing
risk of cold joint and variability between loads
Plasticizers and slump retention agents : increase workability stability over time, reducing the need for field adjustments.
Direct benefit: predictability of concrete pouring , especially in projects with complex logistics (distance, waiting time, heat).
To pump, you need to force it too much.
Common symptoms
high pumping pressure
Clogging, phase separation, poor finish.
Rework and delays (the schedule cries in silence)
Superplasticizers (high-performance water reducers) and, where applicable, viscosity modifiers (VMA) to increase cohesion and rheological stability.
Result: improved flow with cohesion , reducing segregation and improving pumpability.
Segregation and exudation: the concrete crumbles.
Common symptoms
cream/water on the surface
aggregates separate
loss of homogeneity, difficult finish and risk of pathologies
Adjust the system with additives that increase cohesion and water control via water reducers; VMA when necessary.
Benefits: more tightly bound concrete, resulting in cleaner application and a more predictable finish.
Grab it out the window: too early or too late
Common symptoms
accelerated starting in the heat (loss of workability, cold joints)
Slow start in the cold (delay in demolding and schedule)
Setting retarders for extensive concrete pours, hot climates, and longer transport distances.
Accelerators for cold weather and when mold rotation needs to be optimized.
Benefit: fewer surprises and more repetitiveness in the process.
Cracks appearing too early (and maintenance coming too early)
Common symptoms
shrinkage cracking (plastic and/or drying cracking)
Water infiltration , poor aesthetics, and risk of durability.
Shrinkage reducers and combined strategies: additive + trace element + well-executed curing.
Technical market reference/literature: shrinkage reduction can typically occur in ranges of ~20% to 50% , varying with trace, environment, curing, and system used.
Harsh environment: chlorides, sea air, industry
Common symptoms
requirement for a long service life
concern about reinforcement corrosion and permeability.
Solutions for durability , such as systems that help reduce permeability and/or corrosion inhibitors when technically indicated.
The logic is simple (and powerful): less permeability = less entry of aggressive agents .
The "heart" of performance gains: reducing water without sacrificing workability.
This is where the performance curve changes the most.
Hyperkem™ | SP II Water Reducing Superplasticizer Additive ( high-performance water reducers)
When correctly selected and dosed, superplasticizers can allow typical water reductions of around 12% to 30% , depending on the mix design, materials, and product (technical classifications widely used in the market, such as ASTM C494 Types F/G , varying according to the technology).
What does this unlock?
lower a/c without losing slump
potential for greater compressive strength
denser microstructure , with lower permeability
Improved finishing, pumping, and productivity.
Translation for the work: you "buy" performance with chemistry and control — not with makeshift solutions and extra water.
Compatibility and dosage: where engineering wins (or loses) the game.
Let's return to the initial question in this post: how to improve concrete using additives? A good additive, applied without criteria, becomes a gamble. And concrete shouldn't depend on luck.
Essential best practices
Define performance goals.
target slump and holding time
resistance (fck) and control ages (e.g., 7 and 28 days)
Durability requirements (environment, coverage, permeability, etc.)
Validate through trials (before going to the "anything goes" phase of the construction site).
slump and stability
air content (when applicable)
catch time
compressive strength
pumpability/finish observations (when applicable)
Fine-tuning of dosage and mixing sequence.
Many systems respond better with step-by-step addition (depending on the process).
Compatibility with cement, fines, mineral admixtures, and temperature is crucial.
Technological control and traceability
Maintaining consistency in materials and recording variations reduces "mysteries" in the outcome.
Normative references and best practices vary by project, but in Brazil it is common to align processes and responsibilities with ABNT NBR 12655 (concrete — preparation, control, receipt and acceptance) and structural requirements with ABNT NBR 6118 , when applicable.
Smart combinations (when one additive is good, two well-thought-out ones are better)
In real-world projects, the best results often come from systems :
Superplasticizer + slump retainer - To maintain fluidity for longer without extra water.
Superplasticizer + VMA (viscosity modifier) - For fluidity with cohesion (especially in concretes that are more "sensitive" to segregation).
Retarder + slump control - For long concrete pours in hot weather, reducing the risk of cold joints.
Shrinkage reducer + proper curing - Additive helps a lot, but poor curing "leaves" cracks everywhere.
Understanding how to improve concrete using additives and making the right selection of additive types makes all the difference.
Each additive has a specific role, and having a company that combines cutting-edge engineering with high performance and innovation is a game-changer: water reduction, slump control, setting, cracking, and durability. This is where Novakem comes in as a technical partner, precisely in this process: selecting the correct set of quality additives for the required performance, focusing on productivity and quality.
Quick checklist: how to specify additives without a headache
Use this script before finalizing the solution:
A) Project data
Aggressiveness class/environment
desired service life
resistance requirement and critical ages
Type of element (slab, column, block, foundation, industrial floor, etc.)
B) Production and logistics data
time between power plant and discharge
pumping requirements and distance/height
temperature range (day/night; summer/winter)
C) Fresh concrete goals
initial slump and retention
cohesion/segregation
finishing and thickening
D) Hardened concrete goals
resistance
permeability/durability
crack control (when critical)
With this information at hand, it becomes much easier to choose the appropriate Novakem additive family and validate it in testing.
A didactic (hypothetical) example of gains "where the work feels"
Scenario: Concrete pumped in hot weather, with waiting times and frequent slump loss. Problem: Crew adds water to "save" the pour → strength varies and cracks appear sooner.
Technical (conceptual) strategy
Use a superplasticizer additive to reduce water content while maintaining slump.
Include a deduction retainer to preserve workability in logistics.
Validate dosage through testing, and reinforce curing to reduce the risk of cracking.
Expected result (qualitative)
less correction in the field
more stable pumping
quality standardization between loads
Reducing rework and the risk of non-compliance.
(Final figures depend on the mix design, materials, and work conditions—that's why validation is part of the package, not an "accessory.")
Conclusion: High-performance concrete is a process, not a "miracle product"
Additives are powerful tools, but the real leap comes when the work treats concrete for what it is: an engineering material, sensitive to control.
If you want to reduce headaches and increase predictability, the path is: clear goal → right additive → correct dosage → testing → technological control → well-executed product.
Novakem Indústria Química positions itself precisely within this logic: additive solutions to enhance performance, productivity, and durability , with a technical approach and a focus on repeatable results.
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