Curing is the process of maintaining satisfactory moisture content and temperature in the concrete for a definite period of time. Hydration of cement is a long-term process and requires water and proper temperature. Therefore, curing allows continued hydration and, consequently, continued gains in concrete strength. In fact, once curing stops, the concrete dries out, and the strength gain stops, as indicated in Figure 1.

Curing of Concrete

If the concrete is not cured and is allowed to dry in air, it will gain only about 50% of the strength of continuously cured concrete. If concrete is cured for only 3 days, it will reach about 60% of the strength of continuously cured concrete; if it is cured for 7 days, it will reach 80% of the strength of continuously cured concrete.

If curing stops for some time and then resumes again, the strength gain will also stop and reactivate. Increasing temperature increases the rate of hydration and, consequently, the rate of strength development. Temperatures below 10°C are unfavorable for hydration and should be avoided, if possible, especially at early ages.

Although concrete of high strength may not be needed for a particular structure, strength is usually emphasized and controlled since it is an indication of the concrete quality. Thus, proper curing not only increases strength but also provides other desirable properties such as durability, water tightness, abrasion resistance, volume stability, resistance to freeze and thaw, and resistance to deicing chemicals.

Curing should start after the final set of the cement. If concrete is not cured after setting, concrete will shrink, causing cracks. Drying shrinkage can be prevented if ample water is provided for a long period of time. An example of improper curing would be a concrete floor built directly over the subgrade, not cured at the surface, with the moisture in the soil curing it from the bottom.

In this case, the concrete slab may curl due to the relative difference in shrinkage. Curing can be performed by any of the following approaches:

1. maintaining the presence of water in the concrete during early ages. Methods to maintain the water pressure include ponding or immersion, spraying or fogging, and wet coverings.
2. preventing loss of mixing water from the concrete by sealing the surface. Methods to prevent water loss include impervious papers or plastic sheets, membrane-forming compounds, and leaving the forms in place.
3. accelerating the strength gain by supplying heat and additional moisture to the concrete. Accelerated curing methods include steam curing, insulating blankets or covers, and various heating techniques.

Note that preventing loss of mixing water from the concrete by sealing the surface is not as effective as maintaining the presence of water in the concrete during early ages. The choice of the specific curing method or combination of methods depends on the availability of curing materials, size and shape of the structure, inplace versus plant production, economics, and aesthetics.

Ponding or Immersion Curing of Concrete

Ponding involves covering the exposed surface of the concrete structure with water. Ponding can be achieved by forming earth dikes around the concrete surface to retain water. This method is suitable for flat surfaces such as floors and pavements, especially for small jobs. The method requires intensive labor and supervision. Immersion is used to cure test specimens in the laboratory, as well as other concrete members, as appropriate.

Spraying or Fogging

A system of nozzles or sprayers can be used to provide continuous spraying or fogging . This method requires a large amount of water and could be expensive. It is most suitable in high temperature and low humidity environments. Commercial test laboratories generally have a controlled temperature and humidity booth for curing specimens.

Wet Coverings

Moisture-retaining fabric coverings saturated with water, such as burlap, cotton mats, and rugs, are used in many applications . The fabric can be kept wet, either by periodic watering or covering the fabric with polyethylene film to retain moisture. On small jobs, wet coverings of earth, sand, saw dust, hay, or straw can be used. Stains or discoloring of concrete could occur with some types of wet coverings.

Impervious Papers or Plastic Sheets

Evaporation of moisture from concrete can be reduced using impervious papers, such as kraft papers, or plastic sheets, such as polyethylene film.

Impervious papers are suitable for horizontal surfaces and simply shaped concrete structures, while plastic sheets are effective and easily applied to various shapes. Periodic watering is not required when impervious papers or plastic sheets are used. Discoloration, however, can occur on the concrete surface.

Membrane-Forming

Compounds Various types of liquid membrane-forming compounds can be applied to the concrete surface to reduce or retard moisture loss. These can be used to cure fresh concrete, as well as hardened concrete, after removal of forms or after moist curing. Curing compounds can be applied by hand or by using spray equipment . Either one coat or two coats (applied perpendicular to each other) are used.

Normally, the concrete surface should be damp when the curing compound is applied. Curing compounds should not be used when subsequent concrete layers are to be placed, since the compound hinders the bond between successive layers. Also, some compounds affect the bond between the concrete surface and paint.

Forms Left in Place

Loss of moisture can be reduced by leaving the forms in place as long as practical, provided that the top concrete exposed surface is kept wet. If wood forms are used, the forms should also be kept wet. After removing the forms, another curing method can be used.

Steam Curing

Steam curing is used when early strength gain in concrete is required or additional heat is needed during cold weather. Steam curing can be attained either with or without pressure. Steam at atmospheric pressure is used for enclosed cast-in-place structures and large precast members. High-pressure steam in autoclaves can be used at small manufactured plants.

Insulating Blankets or Covers

When the temperature falls below freezing, concrete should be insulated using layers of dry, porous material such as hay or straw. Insulating blankets manufactured of fiberglass, cellulose fibers, sponge rubber, mineral wool, vinyl foam, or open-cell polyurethane foam can be used to insulate formwork. Moisture proof commercial blankets can also be used.

Electrical, Hot Oil, and Infrared Curing

Precast concrete sections can be cured using electrical, oil, or infrared curing techniques. Electrical curing includes electrically heated steel forms, and electrically heated blankets. Reinforcing steel can be used as a heating element, and concrete can be used as the electrical conductor. Steel forms can also be heated by circulating hot oil around the outside of the structure. Infrared rays have been used for concrete curing on a limited basis.

Curing Period

The curing period should be as long as is practical. The minimum time depends on several factors, such as type of cement, mixture proportions, required strength, ambient weather, size and shape of the structure, future exposure conditions, and method of curing.

For most concrete structures, the curing period at temperatures above 5°C should be a minimum of 7 days or until 70% of specified compressive or flexure strength is attained. The curing period can be reduced to 3 days if high early strength concrete is used and the temperature is above 10°C.