EFFECT OF CURING ON DURABILITY

The durability of concrete structures is greatly influenced by the curing of the concrete. Inadequate curing can result in a very weak and porous material near the surface of the concrete that is vulnerable to ingress of various harmful substances from the environment. A review is presented of the effects of methods and duration of curing on concrete properties with respect to permeability, porosity, and water absorption. Results obtained from mortar specimens that were cured using chemical membranes are discussed. A brief discussion on the current method of assessing the curing efficiency of chemical membranes is also presented.