Steam curing is a faster and more uniform process for curing concrete, cement, and mortar, but may result in weaker products in the long run. The process involves placing items in a chamber and controlling temperature, humidity, and pressure. Timing is important for natural curing, and dry, hot weather can cause weakness and cracking. Manufacturers produce steam curing equipment, but companies must consider the materials and their intended use when determining appropriate conditions.
Steam curing is a process for curing concrete, cement and mortar that involves exposure to hot steam. Materials subjected to this curing technique tend to cure more uniformly and also much faster than those cured with other processes. There are some disadvantages of this process that must be considered before deciding to use it for curing and there may be some applications where this method is not appropriate.
In steam curing, the items to be cured are placed inside a chamber or room. Using a control panel, an operator can set the level of temperature and humidity. Pressure variations may also be possible, depending on the device. Heat and humidity quickly penetrate materials to fully hydrate and harden them. Steam curing takes a fraction of the time compared to traditional curing and quickly strengthens products so they can be used immediately.
The alternative to steam curing is to allow the products to cure naturally at room temperature and humidity levels. Timing is important when using concrete, cement and mortar, as cool, humid weather tends to provide the best cure. Dry, hot weather will cause weakness and cracking which may affect the finished product and, in some cases, the damage may be extensive enough that the product cannot be used. This is an especially important consideration when working outdoors, where temperatures and humidity levels cannot be controlled.
The problem with steam-cured concrete is that the concrete may be weaker in the long run. Steam-cured cement, concrete, and mortar products are stronger early on than traditionally cured products, but are more likely to crack, crumble, and develop other problems later in their useful life. This may not be a problem in all situations, but it can become a serious problem in others. Variations in the temperature and humidity levels used during curing that change the time required will also vary the long term strength of the product.
A number of manufacturers produce steam curing equipment, along with other accessories for working with cement, concrete and mortar. Steam curing chambers are available, as well as equipment that can be used to assemble the curing rooms. Manufacturers provide detailed specifications for their products in order to enable people to order the products that best suit their needs. Companies that use this process need to consider the types of materials they are curing and how they will be used when determining the appropriate humidity and temperature for this curing process.
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