Concrete Curing and its Importance

Curing of concrete is the process of controlling moisture loss from concrete that has already been placed. Concrete Curing ensures hydration of the cement, which in turn enhances its strength and durability. Concrete Curing takes place immediately after positioning of the concrete and deals with maintenance of the desired temperature and moisture for extended periods.

The time taken for concrete curing depends upon many factors such as the weather conditions, the size, and shape of the concrete member, mixture proportions, and strength of the mixture.

There are three primary ways in which curing of concrete can be achieved; they are:

•   Maintaining mixing water in concrete during the early hardening process.
•   Reducing the loss of mixing water from the surface of the concrete.
•   Accelerating strength gain using heat and additional moisture.

The Concrete Curing Process

The chemical reactions between cement & water produce C-S-H gel which bonds the ingredients of concrete, viz. coarse & fine aggregates, mineral admixtures, etc., and converts these fragments into a rock solid mass. This is possible only if continuous curing is done for at least 14 days; irrespective of the type of cement used. It is understood that blended cement requires prolonged curing to convert calcium hydroxide into C-S-H gel. However, in the case of OPC as well, voids within the concrete mass are filled up and disconnected by the formation of C-S-H gel after about ten days of concrete curing.

To have a dense microstructure and impermeability, prolonged concrete curing is a must which leads to enhanced durability. Well-designed concrete may give poor durability if not properly cured, and on the other hand, a moderately designed concrete if well cured can provide better durability. Hence the importance of concrete curing should never be ignored.

The Advantages of Curing Concrete

• Concrete Curing has a strong influence on all properties of concrete, and therefore, it should not be taken lightly. Properly cured concrete has a better surface hardness and can better withstand surface wear and abrasion.
• Concrete Curing also makes concrete more impermeable, which prevents moisture and water-borne chemicals from entering into the concrete, thereby increasing durability and service life. Proper curing helps to prevent grazing, dusting, surface disintegration, and scaling. Adequate curing reduces shrinkage, gives better resistance to wear, and improves long-term appearance.
• Without proper concrete curing, the chemical process of hydration is not complete. You will never be able to get the designed strength of concrete and please note that this is a loss of strength for a lifetime and there is no easy alternative to strengthen such poorly cured weak concrete. So always be careful and cure with care.
• When picking cement, you want to go with the best choice for your project at hand. Virtue Industries offer a range of specialized concrete which is high-strength, durable and work best for any projects. Virtue’s products are ideal for all types of constructions, from flyovers to underwater concrete work to dams & canals. Invest well, build strong!

When picking cement, you want to go with the best choice for your project at hand. Virtue Industries offer a range of specialized concrete which is high-strength, durable and work best for any projects. Virtue’s products are ideal for all types of constructions, from flyovers to underwater concrete work to dams & canals. Invest well, build strong!