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<p>Curing is a fundamental process in concrete technology that controls moisture retention, temperature, and time, thereby enabling proper hydration and the development of mechanical, durability, and microstructural properties. This study investigates the influence of different curing conditions on the performance of high-strength concrete (HSC) with target compressive strengths of 75, 85, and 95&#xa0;MPa. A total of 675 specimens were prepared and exposed to fifteen curing regimes, including standard water curing, ambient outdoor and laboratory curing, delayed curing for 1 and 2 days, self-curing using internal admixtures, and three curing compounds: acrylic-based (CC1), resin-based (CC2), and paraffin-based (CC3). Compressive strength was measured at 7, 28, and 90 days, flexural strength at 28 days, durability was evaluated through sulfuric acid resistance tests, and microstructural characteristics were examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). The results showed that standard water curing produced the highest 28-day compressive strengths of approximately 96&#xa0;MPa, 89.74&#xa0;MPa, and 78.9&#xa0;MPa for Grades 95, 85, and 75, respectively. A one-day delay in curing reduced the strengths to 86.01&#xa0;MPa, 83.58&#xa0;MPa, and 75.93&#xa0;MPa, while a two-day delay caused reductions of approximately 9–12%, resulting in values of 84.61&#xa0;MPa, 80.14&#xa0;MPa, and 69.25&#xa0;MPa for Grades 95, 85, and 75, respectively. Among the curing compounds, CC2 exhibited superior performance, retaining about 88–92% of the control strength, with corresponding values of 85.22&#xa0;MPa, 82.97&#xa0;MPa, and 69.54&#xa0;MPa, and showing minimal sensitivity to curing delays, whereas CC1 demonstrated slightly lower but comparable performance. In contrast, CC3 resulted in significant strength reductions, particularly under delayed curing conditions. Flexural strength results followed trends similar to compressive strength, with a maximum value of 9.41&#xa0;MPa recorded for Grade 95 under standard one day delay curing. Acid resistance tests indicated lower strength deterioration for CC2 specimens, while CC3 exhibited greater degradation. Microstructural analysis confirmed that proper curing produced dense, well-hydrated matrices, whereas delayed curing increased porosity and unhydrated cement particles, highlighting the critical importance of curing method and timing in optimizing HSC performance.</p>

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Influence of Various Curing Conditions on the Mechanical, Durability, and Microstructural Properties of High-Strength Concrete: A Comprehensive Experimental Study

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年3月31日

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  • Mohammed Arif Ali,
  • Hemn Unis Ahmed

摘要

Curing is a fundamental process in concrete technology that controls moisture retention, temperature, and time, thereby enabling proper hydration and the development of mechanical, durability, and microstructural properties. This study investigates the influence of different curing conditions on the performance of high-strength concrete (HSC) with target compressive strengths of 75, 85, and 95 MPa. A total of 675 specimens were prepared and exposed to fifteen curing regimes, including standard water curing, ambient outdoor and laboratory curing, delayed curing for 1 and 2 days, self-curing using internal admixtures, and three curing compounds: acrylic-based (CC1), resin-based (CC2), and paraffin-based (CC3). Compressive strength was measured at 7, 28, and 90 days, flexural strength at 28 days, durability was evaluated through sulfuric acid resistance tests, and microstructural characteristics were examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). The results showed that standard water curing produced the highest 28-day compressive strengths of approximately 96 MPa, 89.74 MPa, and 78.9 MPa for Grades 95, 85, and 75, respectively. A one-day delay in curing reduced the strengths to 86.01 MPa, 83.58 MPa, and 75.93 MPa, while a two-day delay caused reductions of approximately 9–12%, resulting in values of 84.61 MPa, 80.14 MPa, and 69.25 MPa for Grades 95, 85, and 75, respectively. Among the curing compounds, CC2 exhibited superior performance, retaining about 88–92% of the control strength, with corresponding values of 85.22 MPa, 82.97 MPa, and 69.54 MPa, and showing minimal sensitivity to curing delays, whereas CC1 demonstrated slightly lower but comparable performance. In contrast, CC3 resulted in significant strength reductions, particularly under delayed curing conditions. Flexural strength results followed trends similar to compressive strength, with a maximum value of 9.41 MPa recorded for Grade 95 under standard one day delay curing. Acid resistance tests indicated lower strength deterioration for CC2 specimens, while CC3 exhibited greater degradation. Microstructural analysis confirmed that proper curing produced dense, well-hydrated matrices, whereas delayed curing increased porosity and unhydrated cement particles, highlighting the critical importance of curing method and timing in optimizing HSC performance.