Applying any material to an existing concrete surface intrinsically entails the development of a bond. Considering the ever increasing importance of concrete repair and protection, which imply the creation of an interface between two materials, an improved knowledge of concrete surface characteristics is paramount.

Surface engineering, which has evolved from the world of metallurgy, addresses all surface-related considerations, notably adhesion. It provides a fundamental understanding of what will make the contact between two materials effective or not, allowing for interactions of...

Production of Portland cement is responsible for about seven percent of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions. The pressure to make the production of concrete more sustainable, or "greener", is considerable and increasing. This requires a wholesale shift in processes, materials and methods in the concrete industry. Pure Portland cement will need to be replaced by more complex binary, tertiary or even quaternary binders, including other types of cementitious materials. We can expect an increasing use of high performance concrete, primarily because of its high sustainability...