1.

4 Curing Techniques
• Curing of concrete is one of the most important factors in concrete
construction as it is related to properties such as characteristic strength,
permeability, durability, etc. Further, it is required to do the curing at the
right time and a sufficient period of curing is very important to achieve the
exact properties of concrete.

• Curing of concrete is done to avoid the evaporation of the water from the
concrete when it getting harden and maintaining the moisture in the
concrete surface for hydration reactions.
• Further, it is required to maintain the temperature gradient, which is the
drop of temperature per unit length, and the temperature difference
between the core and the surface. In general, temperature differences and
gradient is maintained around 20-25 degree Celsius.

• In addition, the rise of the core temperature needs to reduce and rising
beyond the 70 Celsius, increases the risk of delayed ettringite formation.
This reaction increases the internal volume and as a results concrete gets
cracking. Core temperature can reduce with an introduction of the internal
cooling method.
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Methods of Curing Concrete

Water Curing
Wet Covering
Formwork Curing
Membrane Curing
Sheet Curing
Curing by Absorbing Heat
Hot mixing method
Electrical curing
Infra-Red Curing
Cover with Sand or Sawdust, Soil, etc
Natural Curing (Exposed concrete)
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1. Water Curing
• The application of the water is done to avoid the drying of the concrete surface. Usually,
this method applies when the concrete is thinner.
• For example, in building construction, the curing of the floor slab can be done with this
method.
• There are two methods to apply the water on concrete.
 Ponding the concrete
 Use sprinklers to spread water continuously
o Ponding the Concrete
 Continuously wetting the concrete surface is done in the method without allowing the concrete
surface to dry.
 Most of the time, a kerb cast around the slab helps to pond the relevant area.
 This method is very useful in dry environments as it is not required to pour the water
continuously. All the flat surfaces such as road pavements, slabs, footpaths, etc can cure with this
method easily.
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oUse of Sprinklers
• It is a must not allowing the concrete surface getting dry due to the evaporation.
Continuous spraying the water at a constant rate and uniformly is a must to fulfill
the adequate curing.
• Sprinklers set at adequate spacing will be used for this purpose.
• As indicated in the figure, moisture level will not reduce from the required level,
and this is a very easy method as it does not require lots of involvement like hand
curing (cure manually).
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2. Wet Covering
Wet curing is a method of maintaining the surface moisture level by placing
materials like hessian. Use of gunnery bae is also common.
These covering shall place on the concrete surface when it hardens enough to
work to please covers. Further, the drying of the concrete surface shall not be
allowed due to any reason.
The methods discussed under the title water curing can only be used to cure
the horizontal surfaces. Vertical surfaces in concrete columns, walls, etc. can
also cure with this method as indicated in the following figure.
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3. Formwork Curing
Formwork is the most effective curing agent in the construction. Especially in
thick concretes where the hydration temperature is high, this method is used.
Further, not cost involved as the cost is already covered under the formwork.
The only concern is keeping the formwork a bit longer than usual.
When the risk of cracking is becoming an issue in large concrete due to the
variations in the surface of the concrete, formwork curing provides more
safety.
Further, when the transmission of the heat in thick concretes are becoming
an issue, formwork curing is used as an alternative. Depending on the heat,
peak temperature, temperature gradient and temperature different the
thickness of the formwork can be finalized.
Usually, a mockup test is done for thicker concretes when using higher grades
of concrete to monitor the temperature variations. The test is done before
starting the concrete work.
Depending on the outcome of the test, formwork material, its thickness,
placing temperature of concrete, the measures for reducing the heat of
hydration, etc are done. Generally, the test is done for the above conditions
and checked whether they are acceptable.
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4. Membrane Curing
A membrane is formed on the concrete surface to avoid the evaporation of the
moisture in the concrete.
Liquid form material is sprayed over the concrete surface and it solidifies and
forms a membrane. These materials can apply with brushed or roller. There are
two types of membranes.
 Water-based
 Oil-based
The water-based curing membranes are more popular than the oil base as it can
be washed off with water after the curing period, and additional effort is
required to remove the oil-based membranes. Acid-etched, sandblasting or
chipping is required to remove the oil base membranes.
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5. Sheet Curing
• There are two types of the sheet used for curing.
Polythene Sheet
Plastic Sheet
Curing Blankets
• Both the type of the sheet is sued to cure the flat surfaces usually. Polythene
sheets are sued to cover the concrete slabs and columns. The sheet can be
placed on the slab just after it gets hardened.
• Shelter areas are also created by using the polythenes in addition to applying
them to the concrete. It allows the concrete to dry naturally. Special occasions
less evaporation and concrete not that structurally important, this method
can be used.
• Plastic sheets also can be used to cover the concrete. These sheets are sued to
cover the flat surfaces. It is a watertight and less weight material. In addition,
it is easy to handle.
• In addition, curing blankets are used as protection to the newly placed
concrete. It does the same thing as another type of sheet. No evaporation of
moisture from the concrete surface will exist.
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6. Curing by Absorbing Heat – Pipe Water Cooling
• Pipes are set inside the concrete to absorb the heat. Water is circulated
in the concrete and it absorbs the heat of in the concrete.
• Especially for thick concrete and when a higher grade of concrete is used
for construction, this method is more suitable. It reduces the core
temperature.
• However, these methods shall be used with much care as the sudden
change in the temperature could cause cracking in the concrete.
• Continuous monitoring of the temperature of the water provides an idea
about the internal temperature. Base on the observations, the flow rate
can be adjusted.
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7. Hot mixing Method
• An increase in the temperature of the concrete is done to enhance the
strength of the concrete.
• Rising the temperature of the concrete up to 320C could enhance the
strength by 10% – 20%.
• Since the concrete gets the strength early, this method can use in a
situation where it is required early strength. Further, the formwork can be
removed early with the gain of the strength of early.
• There are several methods that can be sued to increase the temperature of
the concrete
Increase the temperature of aggregate by heating
Heat the water
Inject steam into the concrete mix
• In this method, special formwork shall be used and the formwork shall also
be used. This method is not typically used and it can be used on special
occasions.
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8. Electrical Curing
• There are three methods in electrical curing.
Electrical current passes through the freshly laid concrete between two
external fix electrodes. The alternate current shall be passed through the
concrete.

A high current having low voltage passing through the reinforcement net.

Large electric blankets are utilized for the purpose of heating the slab
surfaces.
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11. Natural Curing
• Concrete is allowed to cure naturally without covering anything.
• In environments where the evaporation is very less and no high heat
to harm the concrete, concrete can be allowed to cure naturally.
• This could mainly be done for structural elements that do not have
much importance. However, structurally important elements could not
be cured using this method.
• Higher the rate of the evaporation, the higher the risk of cracking of
the concrete. Further, the variation of the surface temperature with
the time causes cracking of the concrete.
• In addition, the moisture required for the hydration process is not
adequate. It causes the reduction of the strength of the concrete and
the same can be identified as a factor affecting the durability of
concrete.