Abstract
This study presents a systematic review on the effect of superplasticiser additives on the properties of fresh and hardened concrete. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2000 guidelines were followed for the collection and analysis of experimental studies obtained from databases such as Scopus, Science-Direct and Web of Science (WoS), and evaluates the published literature (2014–2025) on the influence of different superplasticiser types and doses – including polycarboxylate ethers, naphthalene and lignosulphonates – across both self-compacting and conventional high-performance concretes (HPC). The results show that the incorporation of these additives enhances workability, compressive strength and durability, especially when combined with mineral additions such as silica fume and metakaolin. Optimised dosing of superplasticisers can increase compressive strength by 20%–40% and significantly reduce water-to-cement ratios without loss of flowability. It is concluded that the use of PCE superplasticisers has driven the development of HPC, optimising their application in the construction industry However, limitations include insufficient statistical comparison across additive types, and heterogeneity in reporting performance metrics. Recommendations are made for standardised reporting, deeper exploration of environmental impacts and long-term durability assessment.