Techniques and Advantages of Curing Concrete

Concrete curing plays a key role in making a concrete structure able to stand the test of time. It is a process to retain moisture within the concrete while it hardens to make the structure strong and durable. Besides these, there are many reasons why concrete curing is a necessity. 

 When the water from the mixture evaporates before it hardens, it leaves the structure fragile and susceptible to damage. Curing concrete not only makes a concrete structure strong (which is a good enough reason) but also makes it less permeable. This means that the water holds the concrete particles close together while it hardens, making it less likely to let water get inside the structure.

Curing concrete is a common procedure in the many uses of concrete. This includes its use in curing concrete floors and foundation to walls and structural support. And there are many methods to that can be used to cure concrete. The most common of these methods are shading, ponding, water sprinkling and steam curing.

Methods to cure Concrete:

Shading:

In this method, the concrete is covered and shaded to prevent moisture from evaporating, keeping the concrete moist. The concrete structure is commonly covered with hessian rags, gunny bags or canvas. This helps protect the moist concrete from direct contact with wind and the sun, keeping it nice and moist. Though this method is commonly used in hot climates, it can also be used in cold climates to prevent the concrete from freezing before it can turn hard. This method is most preferred in places where water is a scarce resource or not available in an abundance.

Ponding:

This method is one of the most efficient methods used to cure concrete. This method can only be used to cure concrete on horizontal surfaces like floors and ceilings. In this process, clay and sand are common materials, which are used to create partitions and walls to hold ponds of water. Once the concrete structure is build, partition walls are made around a foot high to split the entire surface into segments. After these partitions are made, they are filled with water to create a pond. Depending on the type of climate, these ponds are filled around two or three times a day to keep the concrete below moist. The only drawback of this method is the amount of water that is needed to cure concrete. Proper care has to be taken when building these clay partitions, as any gap or break in the wall could cause the water to escape.

Water Sprinkling:

This is the most simple of all the methods of curing concrete. The process involves sprinkling the concrete structure with water at timely intervals. This method is exceptional as it keeps the concrete moist and wet and is carefully observed as it hardens. However, huge amounts of water is needed to keep the concrete moist for a long period. When the temperature is around 50°F to 70 °F less water evaporates, meaning the concrete remains moist for a longer time. This makes for ideal conditions for concrete to cure perfectly and to reach its maximum strength.

Steam Method:

The Steam method used to cure concrete is by far the best. This method allows the concrete to build up strength and harden faster than any of the other methods. The steam used to cure the concrete is maintained at 75°C. This is the most common method used to cure precast concrete work. In some cases, hot water is also used to boost the curing process. Though this method is proven to be effective, the right temperature of the steam is key for the best results. Rapid heating and cooling of the concrete should be avoided so that cracks do not form in the concrete.

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