1.INTRODUCTION Companies and people who place concrete are often focused on organizing and planning, forming, placing, and finishing. Curing doesn't get the same consideration--especially on residential applications. But curing plays an important role in terms of the ultimate strength, durability, abrasion resistance, volume stability, permeability to water, and resistance to freezing, thawing, and de-icing concrete .Good curing delays shrinage and in the case of wet curing can delay shrinage until after curing is complete.Generally speaing, concrete produced with a low water-cement ratio is stronger, more durable concrete. But mi!es with water-cement ratios lower than ".#", especially high performance concrete $%&C' mi!es, don't have enough water to properly hydrate the cement. (i!es with water-cement ratios of ".#" and above have enough water to promote good curing if the water can be retained in the slab during the curing cycle. 2.CURING CONCRETE 2.1WHAT IS CURING Curing is the maintenance of a satisfactory moisture content and temperature in concrete to achieve the desired strength and hardness. )rying removes water needed for hydration. *ithout ade+uate water and insufficient hydration, concrete tends to be wea. ,emperature is an important parameter in proper curing. -n outdoor concreting temperature, humidity and wind velocity contribute to evaporation, that is, loss of water. &revention of loss of moisture from concrete is . important not only from the point of view of strength development but also to prevent plastic shrinage, decrease permeability and improve resistance to abrasion. ,he loss in the 2/-day strength seems to be directly related to loss of moisture during the first three days. 0ive per cent loss in moisture in the first three days leads to nearly 12 per cent loss in strength of concrete. 2.2WHEN TO START CURING ,he curing should start early and should be continued till needed. ,he period of curing to be adopted will depend on a number of factors such as severity of temperature, drying condition, humidity and prevailing wind conditions. -n case of concrete made with ordinary cement, it should be ept wet for at least seven days from the date of placing concrete under normal weather conditions. ,his should be increased to 3" days in dry and hot weather conditions. *hen concrete is made either with mineral admi!tures or blended cements, curing period should be e!tended to 3# days. Curing should be continuous. 4vaporation of water on the surface of concrete depends on5 6elative humidity of surrounding air ,emperature 7elocity of wind -n this method, e!posed surface of concrete is ept continuously in a damp or wet condition by covering it with sacs, canvas, %essian or similar water-absorbent materials and ept constantly wet for the periods mentioned above. -t is important to note that the absorbent material used should not be allowed to dry. ,he drying of these materials can be further prevented by covering it with another layer of plastic sheet. ,he purpose of moist curing is to prevent evaporation of the water added originally to fresh concrete and preserve it for the purpose of hydration. ,he +uality of curing water used should be as good as mi!ing water. 7ertical surfaces such as walls and columns lose curing water fast and hence it is preferable to retain the formwor longer or use very fre+uent wetting. (oist curing prevents loss of moisture from concrete, as well as maintains a satisfactory temperature regime. ,he curing regime prevents the development of high temperature gradients within the concrete. 3.IMPORTANCE OF CURING # -ncreased strength gain -ncreased abrasion resistance on the surface 8ess permeable concrete with increased resistance to chloride penetration and freeze9thaw damage -ncreased resistance to early cracing--slabs gain strength before drying out and have more resistance to shrinage forces -f wet curing is specified for a floor, water must be prevented from moving through control :oints to the subbase and increasing curling problems. &eriodically moistening burlap and covering it with polyethylene is perhaps the best way to do this. -t should also be noted that water, or the materials used for curing, can discolor finished surfaces. 4.CURING METHODS. *ater curing . (embrane curing. ;pplication of heat. (iscellaneous. 4.1WATER CURING. ,he best method of curing as it satisfies all the re+uirements of curing ie, &romotion of hydration. 4limination of shrinage. ;bsorption of the heat of hydration. *ater curing can be done by the following methods. Immers!"# &recast concrete items are normally immmersed in curing tans for a period of 1 days to 2/ days 2 P!"$"%# &avement slabs,roof slabs etc are covered under water by maing small ponds. S&r'("% !r &!"$"%# 7ertical retaining wall, plastered surface of concrete columns etc are curied by spraying water. We) *!+er"%# %orizontal surface are taen into account for this type of curing. 4.2MEM,RANE CURING *here there is water scarcity curing compounds may be used. Curing compound should be applied to all the e!posed surfaces without e!ception. ;ll moisture from concrete may be lost if partial covering is done through the holydays $openings' left. (embrane curing is a more silful operation than conventional moist curing. -mpermeable membranes such as plastic sheeting covering closely the concrete surface can also be used to provide an effective barrier against evaporation. (embrane curing does not control temperature regime. ,he prevention of loss of moisture from concrete at early ages is particularly important in modern high strength concrete where water cement ratio is low. ,he 2.-grade cement used nowadays has a high rate of strength. ,he rate of strength development at the early ages of concrete made with super plasticizers is significantly large. -n these circumstances curing regime becomes utmost important. -n such cases, curing should start early without allowing the concrete to dry. ,he rate of strength development at early ages of concrete made with super-sulphated cement is significantly reduced at low temperatures. <uper-sulphated cement concrete is seriously affected by improper curing. 0or concrete containing &ortland pozzolana cement, &ortland slag cement or mineral admi!tures lie fly-ash curing period should be increased. 4.3APPLICATION OF HEAT *hen concrete is sub:ected to higher temperatures it accelerators the hydration process resulting in faster development of strength. Concrete cannot be sub:ected to dry heat to accelerate the hydration process as the presence of moisture is also essential re+uisite. <ub:ecting the concrete to higher temperature , and maintaining the re+uired wetness can be achieved by sub:ecting the concrete to steam curing. = <ome of the advantages are mentioned below. Concrete is vulnerable to damage only for short time. Concrete member can be handled very +uicly. 8ess space will be sufficient in the casting yard. ; small curing tan will be sufficient. ; higher outturn is possible for a given capital outlay. ,he wor can be put on to service at a much early time. ,he e!posure of concrete to higher can be done by the following methods. <team curing at ordinary pressure <team curing at high pressure Curing by -nfra-red readiation 4lectrical curing 4.3.1STEAM CURING AT ORDINARY PRESSURE. ,his method is applied mostly on prefabricated elements stored in a chamber.,he chamber should be big enough to hold a days production.,he door is closed and steam is applied. ,he steam is applied either continuosly or intermittently.;n accelerated strength of normal concrete in about . days. -t is interesting to note that concrete sub:ected to higher temperature at the early period of hydration is found to loose some of the strength gained at a later age.<uch concrete is said to undergo retrogation strength. Concrete sub:ected to steam curing e!hibits a slightly higher drying shrinage and moisture movement.<ub:ecting the concrete to higher temperature may also slightly effect the aggregate +uality in case of some artificial aggregate.<team curing of concrete made with rapid hardening cement will generate a much higher heat of hydration.<imilarly. richer mi!es may have more adverse effect than that of lean mi!es. 1 8arge number of bridges are being built for insfrastructure development in -ndia.,he re+uirements for casting innumerable precast prestressed girders.,hese girders are steam cured for faster development of strength which has many advantages. ;n initial delay prior to steaming. ; period for retaining the temperature. ; period for increasing the temperature. ; period for decreasing the temperature. 4.3.2HIGH PRESSURE STEAM CURING Curing is carried out in a closed chamber.,he steam will be converted into water naming it hot water curing.,his is done in an open atmosphere. ,he super heated steam at high pressure and high temperature is applied on the concrete.,his process is also called >A-)!*.'+"%/. <ome of the advantages of this process are %igh pressure steam cured concrete develops in one day, or less the strength as much as the 2/
days strength of normally cured concrete.,he strength developed does not show retrogession. %igh pressure steam cured concrete e!hibits higher resistance to sulphate attac,freezing and thawing action and chemical action.-t also shows less efflorescence. %igh pressure steam cured concrete e!hibits lower drying shrinage, and moisture movement. 4.3.3CURING ,Y INFRA0RED RADIATION Curing of concrete by this method is adopted in very cold climatic regions in 6ussia.-t is clamaimed that much more rapid gain of strength as in the case of steam curing at ordinary pressure. ,he sysstem is very ofthen adopted for the curing of hollow concrete products.,he normal operative temperature is ept at ?"@C. / 4.3.4ELECTRICAL CURING ;pplicable mostly to very cold climatic regions is the use of electricity. Concrete can be cured electrically by passing an alternating current through the concrete itself between two electrodes either buried in or applied to the surface of the concrete. 4.1 MISCELLANEOUS METHODS OF CURING. Calcium chloride is used either as a surface coating or as an admi!ture. Calcium Chloride being a salt, shows affinity for moisture by abcorbing the moisture from the atmosphere but also retains it at the surface. &revents the mi!ing water from evaporation and thereby eeps the concrete wet for a long time to promote hydration. 1. CURING COMPOUNDS. 8i+uid membrane forming curing compounds are used to retard the loss of water from concrete during the early period of setting and hardening. Curing compounds are made of the following bases. 1. <ynthetic resin. 2. *a!. 3. ;crylic. 4. Chlorinated rubber. 6esin and *a! based curing compounds seals the concrete surface effectively and with time their efficiency will get reduced and at 2/ days they get disintegrated and peels off. ;crylic based membrane forming curing compound has the additional advantage of having better adhesion of subse+uent plaster.,he membrane does not get crumbled down or it need not be washed with hot water. ? Chlorinated rubber curing compounds not only form a thin film that protects the concrete from drying out but also fills the minute pores in the surfaces of concrete. 2.COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH Compressive strength of 2/ days moist-cured concrete. 3"
3. CODAL PROVISIONS. IS 412# 2444 C.# 13.1 P'%e 23 IS 412# 2444 C.# 13.1.1 P'%e 23 IS 412# 2444 C.# 13.1.2 P'%e 23 IS 412# 2444 C.# 13.1.3 P'%e 23 5. REFERENCES
33 1. (.<.<hetty - Concrete ,echnology ,heory and &ractice. 2. ;.(.Aeville, B.B.Broos C Concrete ,echnology. 3. ;.( Aeville C &roperties of Concrete. 4. Boe Aasvi Concrete Construction, )ec, 2""2 1. www.concrete.org.u. 2. www.ciria.org. u. 3. www.cabmphandboos.com