Certified MTP certified offers a variety of concrete curing boxes, racks and storage containers to help you with the concrete curing process. Our concrete curing boxes are designed to protect concrete specimens in many situations. The Deluxe Thermocure Concrete Curing Box has recirculating temperature control for higher temperature applications. It also has an advanced heating function to maintain curing temperatures. The Economy Thermocure Concrete Curing Box is an economy model that is very portable and field friendly. Although simple it meets industry standards by maintaining temperature conditions but no heating and cooling functionality. Our Concrete Curing Box is the most economical way to test your concrete molds anywhere.
Whatever your project our curing tanks come in various sizes to fit your needs. From 40 Gallon Plastic Concrete Curing Tank to 300 Gallon Galvanized Steel Curing Tank we have the curing tank to help you produce quality molded concrete specimens including concrete cylinders, beams and more. Keep the flow of your concrete mix in these tanks with our Curing Tank Circulator Pump. You can also maintain the temperature of your concrete with our Curing Tank Heater.
There are few methods of curing concrete. To get the ideal texture in concrete cures you should make sure the concrete curing time is for sufficient curing period under optimal curing conditions. Accurate curing time for concrete will give you the desired properties especially with concrete slab. Initial curing is critical during the early stage to have controlled temperature and moisture conditions, often achieved using curing boxes as per industry standards like ASTM C31 and AASHTO T-23. Below are some of the most common concrete curing methods:
- Water curing – for thinner concrete and to prevent drying. Two common methods are ponding concrete and using sprinklers to spread the water.
- Hot concrete mix – increasing concrete temperature adds strength. Process involves raising aggregate temperature, heating water and injecting steam into the concrete mix.
- Sheet curing – using plastic sheets and polythene sheets to cover columns and concrete slab.
- Formwork curing – formwork is a good curing agent for construction because it is good for thicker concretes. Most effective when hydration temperature is increasing.
Other methods of curing include wet covering, membrane curing, infrared curing, electrical curing, natural curing, and covering with sawdust, sand or soil. Whatever method you use, you need the right concrete testing equipment.
Curing is a critical component to add durability and strength to concrete. After the concrete is placed and finished, curing helps to maintain the temperature and moisture conditions for concrete test specimens. Best cured concrete has enough moisture and hydration to retain its volume, strength and resistance to thawing and freezing. Optimum cured concrete also protects against scaling and abrasion. Protected storage ensures that concrete test samples are protected during the curing process, with suitable humidity and temperature conditions. All these are necessary for paving and other concrete applications.
Below are some of the common questions about curing concrete and the various curing equipment used.
Curing concrete is one of the most critical stage in concrete construction. Concrete hardens due to hydration and the chemical reaction of water and cement. However hydration only happens when there are ideal temperature and water levels available.
Curing concrete means keeping the surface moist and within the temperature range. This can be done by soaking the concrete with hoses or sprinklers — or coating with curing compounds. All these methods seals in the much needed moisture when done with the right curing equipment.
You can get good curing compound results with many mix proportions. Just follow the “rule of six”:
- For every cubic yard of concrete, use six bags (minimum cement content) - Use six gallons of maximum water content for every cement bag - Curing period should be at least six days - Air content should be 6% if the concrete can thaw or freeze
The ideal concrete curing room design will have many applications for environmental controls and concrete testing equipment.
First you need to decide if you want to use curing tanks or moisture rooms. Curing tanks and moisture rooms are both good for curing concrete so it may boil down to preference and space.
The curing tank is split evenly and is a reliable solution. It also requires little maintenance as you only need to refill and clean it every 2 years. Besides a moisture room or curing tank, you can also use a Concrete Curing Box (165qt. Heat/AC) with a lockable lid, steam curing box, concrete curing cabinet or curing chamber. There are advantages to using concrete curing boxes especially as an affordable way to store your specimens with flat lids. When buying a curing box, make sure the specifications meet your operation’s needs.
On the other hand the moisture room is good for larger specimens and bigger quantities. You can also organize your specimens by type and age. For all your curing equipment needs, trust Certified MTP.
Accessories to Concrete Cylinders Curing Box:
Concrete Transport Cylinder Racks store and protects multiple specimens during transport
Curing Tank Circulator improves tank circulation and curing process.
Curing Tank Heater maintains consistent curing temperature for concrete
Concrete cure is a critical process in the construction industry to ensure newly placed concrete achieves its intended strength and durability. This article discusses the concrete cure process, the methods, materials and environmental factors that affect the curing process.
Concrete cure test is the process of keeping the concrete moist, temperature and time conditions for newly placed concrete to achieve the required properties for its intended use. This process is called hydration which is the chemical reaction of cement and water that makes the concrete gain strength over time. Proper curing prevents surface damage, minimizes plastic shrinkage cracking and ensures the structural integrity and longevity of the concrete surfaces exposed and all other formed concrete surfaces.
For Precast Concrete Producers Using Concrete Cylinders
The main objective of concrete cure is to keep the concrete surface moist by retaining the moisture in the concrete during its early hardening curing period. This is important because if the concrete dries too fast it can cause many problems including reduced strength, increased permeability and surface cracking. Well cured concrete has better abrasion resistance, moisture retention and freeze-thaw and deicing salt resistance so it’s important for concrete slab, sidewalks, driveways and other structural members.
Methods and MaterialsThere are many methods and materials to cure concrete. Here are some of the most common:
1. Plastic Sheeting: Cover the concrete surface with plastic sheeting or membrane to prevent moisture from escaping.
2. Wet Curing: Spray water on the concrete surface for 7-14 days after pouring.
3. Chemical Curing: Apply special curing compounds to the concrete surface to create a barrier that seals in moisture and allows hydration.
4. Curing Blankets: These are insulating blankets that can be placed over freshly poured concrete to keep the heat generated during hydration within the slab and prevent moisture loss.
Benefits of Well Cured Concrete Cylinders
There are many methods to cure concrete, each for different conditions and types of construction:
1. Water Curing: This method involves keeping the surface of the concrete wet. Common techniques are ponding, immersion, sprinkling or fogging. Water curing maintains the required moisture content and temperature, promotes even hydration. Also important for concrete test cylinders which are critical for determining the ultimate strength and durability of the concrete.
2. Membrane Curing: Used when water curing is not possible, this method involves applying membrane-forming curing compounds to the concrete surface. These compounds forms a film over the concrete that retains moisture. Liquid membrane-forming compounds and white pigmented compounds are popular because they also reflects solar radiation and reduces concrete temperature.
3. Plastic Sheets and Impervious Paper: Cover the concrete with plastic sheets or impervious paper to prevent moisture loss and protect the surface from contaminants. This method is good for hydration and easy to apply.
4. Insulating Blankets or Covers: Good for cold weather conditions, insulating blankets or covers maintains a consistent temperature, protects the concrete from freezing temperature and allows it to gain strength at a steady rate.
5. Electrical Heated Forms: Used to insulate and heat the concrete at the same time, provides warmth to the structure which is necessary during cold weather concreting. These forms often uses thermostatically controlled heating to ensure curing condition as per industry standard, to ensure reliable test result.
Environmental Factors that Affects Curing Condition for Concrete Cylinders
Curing can be affected by:
Temperature: High temperature causes water to evaporate too fast, cold weather slows down or stop hydration if concrete freezes.
Humidity and Wind: Low humidity and high wind increases evaporation from concrete surface, makes moisture retention difficult.
Solar Radiation: Direct sunlight increases surface temperature and accelerates moisture loss, can cause thermal gradient within the concrete that causes differential curing and cracking.
Special Notes on Concrete Cylinders
Cold Weather Concreting: When temperature is near or below freezing, hydration slows down and if water in the concrete freezes, it will expand and damage the concrete. Heated enclosures or adding warm water to the mix can maintain the right temperature for curing.
Hot Weather Concreting: High temperature, wind and low humidity can cause rapid evaporation of moisture from the concrete. Using sunscreens, windbreaks and heating and cooling functionality the ingredients before mixing can manage these condition. Continuous moist method like fogging or spraying is preferred in these condition to minimize plastic shrinkage cracking.
Modern Curing Technique: With the use of self-sealing curing compound and better insulating material, curing has become more efficient. These innovation not only preserve the quality of the concrete but also reduce labor cost of traditional curing method.
Testing and Compliance for Concrete Cylinders
Testing freshly placed concrete for its moisture content, strength and other properties including using concrete cylinders is important to evaluate the curing process. Compliance to standard set by organization like American Concrete Institute (ACI) ensure that the curing process meet industry standard for quality and safety. Using dial thermometer in curing box helps to maintain precise temperature control which is important for reliable concrete test result.
Curing of concrete is crucial in any construction project as it directly affect the quality, durability and load bearing capacity of the concrete structure. By knowing the different curing method and environmental factor that affect curing, professionals can ensure their concrete will perform as expected throughout its life. Curing in optimal condition will give concrete that is strong, durable and stress resistant, thus ensuring concrete structure worldwide.
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