Curing of concrete, especially the reduction of a water-loss due to evaporation, is an important issue in concrete technology. At the moment the process of curing (esp. the duration) is based on the strength development due to temperature effects of the concrete and therefore undervalues the issue of evaporation (at least during the first hours after casting). The results of the accomplished examinations show clearly, that an early water-loss due to evaporation has got direct effect on the properties of hardened concrete in the surface-near area concerning strength and permeability and therefore the durability of a component. Due to the drying of bigger pores in the surface-near areas and the time-dependent narrowing of the pores in the inner part, the evaporation slows down by itself after a certain time after max. 24 to 48 hours depending on the environmental conditions and the composition of the concrete. That is why curing methods have to be very efficient in this period of time, afterwards they have minor impact on the concrete properties.
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Curing of concrete, especially the reduction of a water-loss due to evaporation, is an important issue in concrete technology. At the moment the process of curing (esp. the duration) is based on the strength development due to temperature effects of the concrete and therefore undervalues the issue of evaporation (at least during the first hours after casting). The results of the accomplished examinations show clearly, that an early water-loss due to evaporation has got direct effect on the prope...
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