Get Chapter 12 Curing Concrete Form

However, the most effective methods of curing concrete are wet coverings or water spraying that keeps the concrete continually damp. Curing compounds should be able to maintain the relative humidity of the concrete surface above 80% for seven days to sustain cement hydration.

It's advised that concrete be cured at a moderate temperature between 50 °F 90 °F. In a perfect world, the temperature of fresh concrete should be above 50 °F, but cured and maintained at 50 °F.

Pour the concrete during warmer, sunnier weather. It will dry faster than it would in cooler weather. Add calcium chloride, an accelerating compound, to the concrete before pouring while it is still wet. ... Position a heater near the concrete. ... Place a plastic sheet over the concrete to trap escaping moisture.

Use the correct amount of water in the mix. If there's too much water, there will be more water left over after curing that will need to evaporate. That means a longer drying time. You can use a high cement content mix to reduce the drying time.

For most concrete structures, the curing period at temperatures above 5º C (40º F) should be a minimum of 7 days or until 70% of the specified compressive or flexural strength is attained. The period can be reduced to 3 days if high early strength concrete is used and the temperature is above 10º C (50º F).

Curing of concrete is defined as providing adequate moisture, temperature, and time to allow the concrete to achieve the desired properties for its intended use.

The Normal final setting time of cement is six to eight hours. In short, the curing should start after minimum six hours (Final setting time of cement) and not less than 24 hours. Thus, when concrete curing has to start is varies and depends on when the surface of the concrete begins to dry.

Ponding or spraying the surface with water are methods typically employed to this end. There are three basic ways of curing concrete. The first involves keeping the surface of the concrete moist by the use ponding, spraying/sprinkling, damp sand or damp hessian.

When waiting for concrete to dry, keep these timeframes in mind: 24 to 48 hours - after inital set, forms can be removed and people can walk on the surface. 7 days - after partial curing, traffic from vehicles and equipment is okay. 28 days - at this point, the concrete should be fully cured.