What Does Curing Compound Mean In Construction?
What Does Curing Compound Mean In Construction?
A curing compound is a liquid substance that is applied as a surface coating on freshly installed concrete to reduce the loss of water or heat and create ideal conditions for hydration and strength development.
Curing compounds are typically membrane-forming and can be clear or translucent, white pigmented, synthetic resin, acrylic, wax, or chlorinated rubber.
Curing compounds are used to maintain moisture content in concrete during hot or cold weather, as well as for curing large areas of concrete surfaces that are exposed to sunlight, wind, etc.
They can also be used to cure concrete pavements, runways, bridge decks, canal linings, dams, columns, beams and slabs.
Once the concrete has properly cured, the compound is sandblasted off portions of the road that will be painted (lane stripes, retaining walls etc.) because it leaves behind a slight buildup.
What Are The Uses Of Curing Compound In Construction?
Curing compounds are liquid substances that are applied to freshly installed concrete to reduce the loss of water or heat and create ideal curing conditions.
They can be used on a variety of concrete surfaces, such as pavements, runways, bridge decks, industrial floors, and canal linings.
Curing compounds are typically synthetic resin-based or acrylic-based, and they form a membrane on the surface of the concrete to prevent moisture loss.
Curing is an important part of concrete construction as it helps to develop strength and durability.
In addition to using curing compounds, other forms of curing include wet curing and internal moist curing with lightweight aggregates or absorbent polymer particles.
For mass concrete elements in cold weather, additional procedures such as heated enclosures, evaporation reducers, curing compounds, and insulating blankets may be necessary.
Curing compounds can be used instead of blankets for curing concrete test specimens.
However, film-forming curing compounds do not enhance hydration within a slab; they only prevent moisture loss at the surface of a substrate.
What Are The Types Of Curing Compounds?
There are several types of concrete curing compounds available, including PVA-based, hydrocarbon, acrylic, synthetic resin, wax, and chlorinated rubber compounds.
- PVA-based compounds form a temporary film over the surface that begins to oxidize after 6-7 days and leaves the surface after 28 days.
- Hydrocarbon compounds are water-based and wax-based and can be used on interior and exterior surfaces.
- Acrylic compounds are also water-based and form an impervious film over the concrete to prevent moisture evaporation.
- Synthetic resin compounds are clear or translucent with or without dye. Wax compounds are wax-based dispersions with selected white pigments.
- Chlorinated rubber compounds are high solids, white pigmented, and poly-alphamethylstryene based.
How To Apply Curing Compound?
Applying a concrete curing compound is an important step in ensuring that concrete reaches its maximum strength and durability.
The curing compound should be applied as soon as the surface water disappears, or when the surface will not be walked over.
It should be applied at a rate of 0.20 – 0.25m2 per liter of curing compound, with a sprayer pressure of 0.5 – 0.7 MPa.
The curing compound should be applied uniformly to ensure adequate coverage and reduce loss due to wind action.
A flat spray nozzle is recommended for applying the curing compound to the pavement surface.
The engineer must also ensure that the correct application rate is used, as specified by the manufacturer’s recommendations.
Curing compounds are designed to last on the surface for a minimum of 28 days, however this may vary depending on the situation and application.
Curing compounds are different from cure and seal products, which are designed to both cure and seal concrete surfaces.
