A DISCUSSION OF CEMENT HYDRATION IN RELATION TO THE CURING OF CONCRETE

THE MINIMUM AMOUNT OF WATER REQUIRED TO BRING CEMENT TO ITS ULTIMATE DEGREE OF HYDRATION (WHICH MAY NOT BE COMPLETED HYDRATION) IS, FOR AN AVERAGE CEMENT, ABOUT 0.44 GRAMS OF WATER PER GRAM OF CEMENT, PLUS THE CURING WATER THAT MUST BE ADDED TO KEEP THE PASTE SATURATED. THIS AMOUNT OF WATER IS THE MINIMUM THAT WILL PROVIDE SPACE FOR THE HYDRATION PRODUCTS. PROCEDURES REQUIRED TO PRODUCE MAXIMUM CEMENT HYDRATION, NAMELY, THOSE THAT WOULD PRODUCE AND MAINTAIN THE MAXIMUM DEGREE OF SATURATION, WOULD NOT GENERALLY BE JUSTIFIED. SELF-DESICCATION, AND EVEN SOME LOSS BY EVAPORATION, IS BENEFICIAL IN SOME RESPECTS. MEMBRANE CURING WILL NOT ASSURE FULL HYDRATION BUT MAY BE ADEQUATE AND DESIRABLE, ESPECIALLY FOR CONCRETE MEMBERS IN CONTACT WITH SOIL. /PCA/

• Authors:
  • Powers, T C
• Publication Date: 0

Media Info

• Serial:
  • Portland Cement Assoc R & D Lab Bull
  • Issue Number: 0

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Cement; Concrete curing; Desiccation; Hydration; Membrane curing
• Subject Areas: Highways; Hydraulics and Hydrology; Materials;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00213478
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Portland Cement Association
• Report/Paper Numbers: No 25
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: May 25 1970 12:00AM