Abstract:
In this study, the effectiveness of two easily available concrete curing
compounds in the Indian construction Industry namely; wax and synthetic resinbased,
in comparison with water cured cubes and beams specimens of a paving
concrete of 39 MPa compressive strength and 4.5 MPa flexural strength at 28-day
has been reported. The concrete specimens were cast and kept for curing under
different conditions such as in water, in the sunlight, and under the sunshade. Two
coats of curing compounds as per the manufacturer’s instruction were applied on the
surfaces of the concrete specimens and put in the sunlight and under the sunshade.
The compressive and the flexural strength in comparison with water cured concrete
specimens were evaluated. The study has shown 12% lower compressive strength
and about 7% lower flexural strength for concrete samples cured with resin-based
curing compound than the water cured samples. The study also indicates a reduction
in compressive and flexural strengths of about 33% and 11%, respectively for waxbased
curing compound. Finally, the study shows an upper hand for the resin-based
curing compound, however, neither of them has shown potential as an alternate for
the conventional water curing.
