Precast Show 2019

WHAT IS CURING?
• Curing is a procedure that is adopted to promote the hardening of concrete
under conditions of humidity and temperature.

ACCELERATED
CURING
• Which are conducive to the progressive and proper setting of the constituent
Marcus Barnett, Hamilton Kent cement.
• Internal concrete temperature is the most important factor affecting early
compressive strength of concrete.

Curing Concrete ( ASTM C31)

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EFFECTS OF CURING OF
CURING
HARDENED CONCRETE
• Hardening of concrete
Increased
• Hydration→ CSH (Calcium silicate hydrate)gel
• Strength
• a reaction between the cementitious products and the free water
• Water tightness within the mix called the hydration process.
• Abrasion resistance
• Freeze-thaw resistance • Accelerated curing
• Volume stability • The rate of hydration increases as the ambient temperature
increases.

• Maintaining moisture in the concrete is critical.

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PROPER CURING IS ESSENTIAL ESSENTIALS FOR PROPER CURING

• Maintain moisture
• Reduces permeability

• Essential for structure water tightness • Maintain temperature

• Improves durability • Essential for cement hydration (ASTM C186)

• Temperature is critical to meeting the dual concerns of
higher early strength or reduced curing time.
• Optimal strength achieved

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MAINTAINING MOISTURE BY
CURING METHODS
WETTING

• Wet burlap
• Maintaining moisture by wetting

• Prevent moisture loss by sealing • Spraying/Misting

• Accelerated curing
• Fogging

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PREVENT MOISTURE LOSS BY

SPRAYING/MISTING
MEMBRANE SEALING

• Cold or hot • Forms

• Very fine droplets • Tarps / Polyethylene

• Effective for higher cement content and warmer • Curing Compounds

climates • Caution:
• If w/c <0.5
• With pozzolanic mixes

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LOW PRESSURE STEAM CURING WET CAST PRODUCTS

• Provides both heat and humidity

• Leave forms on as long as possible

• Product is heated by the warmer steam
condensing on it
• Moisture evaporation is minimized
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• Manage concrete and curing temperature
• Exercise caution for thin sections with
openings
• Check with supplier when using accelerated
admixtures
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DRY CAST PRODUCTS ACCELERATING STRENGTH GAIN

4 ways
• Require 90 to 100% humidity

• Curing steam
• Have shorter preset period
• Heating coils
• Electrical heated forms or pads
• Must protect from drafts
• Concrete blanket or Tarps

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CONSIDERATIONS FOR EFFECT OF LOW TEMPERATURES

ACCELERATED CURING ON COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH

• As a rule of thumb, a temperature increase of 18F doubles rate 3 Day Compressive Strength-Gain at Various Ambient
of hydration Temperatures

Temperature Compressive Strength, psi

• High temperatures with low humidity can crack the product 70 F 2700
60 F 2150
50 F 1600

• The lower the curing temperature, the longer the product must 40 F 1200
be cured to achieve comparable early strengths. 30 F 850
20 F 400

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ACCELERATING STRENGTH GAIN ACCELERATED CURING CYCLE

1st way
• Steam Curing The accelerated curing cycle can be divided into three
• Advantageous where early strength gain is required, or
• Additional heat is required to accomplish hydration, ex. cold weather.
periods—

• Two Methods: • preset

• Live steam (atmospheric pressure)
• rising temperature
• steam converted into water (hot water curing)
• maximum temperature
• Autoclave (high pressure)
• closed chamber, superheated steam,
• high temperatures 170 C – 338 F

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TYPICAL ACCELERATED STEAM IDEALIZED ACCELERATED CURING

CURING CYCLE CYCLE
• Preset (< 90 degrees) – at least one hour
• 1) Preseting
• Ramp (Temperature Rise) – at 20F to 40F per hour • 2) Ramping
• 3) Holding
• Hold / Soak (at target temperature) – varies with the product • 4) Cooling

• Cool Down

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STEAM CURING CONCRETE TARGET TEMPERATURES

• Concrete Pipe (Typical for Accelerated)

• 120 F to 140 F (50º C to 60º C)
• 4 to 6 hours

• Precast (including Pipe)/Prestress limits

(ACI)
• 140 F (60 C) in Canada
• 160 F (71 C) in USA
• 8 to 12 Hours

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ACCELERATING STRENGTH GAIN ACCELERATING STRENGTH GAIN

2nd way 3rd way

Heating coils • Electrical heated forms or pads

• Embedded near surface of concrete elements • Primarily used by precast concrete producers
• Prevention from freezing in cold weather • Now used in some sensitive projects

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ACCELERATING STRENGTH GAIN ACCELERATING STRENGTH GAIN

4th way
Winter Concrete Curing Blankets

Concrete blanket • Prevents freezing, rapid drying, & cracking all winter
• Insulate the surfaces in cold temperatures
• ASTM C167 • Heat spreading technology cures concrete fast

• Roll it out, Plug it in, the blanket does the rest

• Maintain optimal curing temperatures year-round

• Only pennies a day to operate

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ACCELERATED CURING ADMIXTURES

Admixtures is defined as a material, other than,
• Dry Heat
• Use with caution: difference between accelerated curing and maintaining
heat • Cement
• Heated beds (hollow core) • Water
• Electric or gas heaters – convection heat
• Aggregate
• Infrared heating – radiant heat
• Low pressure steam
• That is used as an ingredient of concrete and is added to the batch
• Boilers immediately before or during mixing.
• Steam generators
• Admixtures are used to modify the properties of ordinary concrete so as to
• Admixtures make it more suitable for any situation.

Note: Raise concrete temperature while maintaining high humidity

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ACCELERATING ADMIXTURES ACCELERATING ADMIXTURES

Accelerating admixtures are added to concrete to increase the rate of early
strength development.
2 Classes of Admixtures:

• Set Accelerator Why accelerators?

• Strength Accelerator (Early Age)
• Calcium Chloride is the most common in Ready mix, but BEWARE, should
not be used in precast reinforced concrete
• Several non-chloride, non-corrosive accelerators, but generally most are not
as effective as calcium chloride
• Permit earlier removal of formwork.
• Reduce the required period of curing.
• Advance the time that a structure can be placed into service.
• Partially compensate for the retarding effect of low temperature during cold
weather concreting.
• Allows for secondary pours or double pouring options.
• Reverse affect. More is not always better.
• Follow manufactures recommended dosage.

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COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH

9000
ACCELERATED
STRENGTH (PSI)
COMPRESSIVE

HIGH SLUMP
7500 CONCRETE
W/WATER
6000
4500
NO-SLUMP
CONCRETE
CURING
3000 SUPERPLASTICIZED Marcus Barnett, Hamilton Kent
CONCRETE
1500
0
0 1 3 7 14 21 28
TIME (DAYS)

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