Admixtures confer several beneficial effects on concrete including a reduction in water requirements, increased workability, controlled setting, accelerated hardening, improved strength, better durability, desired coloration and volume changes. The admixtures may remain in a free state as a solid or solution may interact at the surface or chemically combine with the constituents of cement or cement paste.

The type and extent of interaction may influence the physico-chemical and mechanical properties of concrete such as water demand, hydration kinetics, composition of the products, setting times, microstructure, strength, and durability. The practical consequences of an understanding of the cement-admixture interactions include: development of methods to estimate admixtures in fresh and hardened concrete; understanding of the compatibility between two or more admixtures in concrete; predictability of properties of concrete; troubleshooting; production of better concrete;