Abstract:
Liquid membrane-forming concrete curing compoundis one type of water retaining
curing techniques. This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of liquid membrane–
forming concrete curing compounds produced in Ethiopia. Drying time and deleterious
reaction tests for curing compounds, and compressive strength and water absorption
tests onC-25 and C-40 grades of concrete were carried out. Four products of liquid
membrane–forming concrete curing compounds, which are produced in Ethiopia were
studied in this research. The test samples of compressive strength and water absorption
are examined under laboratory conditions which were cured through immersion curing
and curing compounds and by exposing samples to external weather conditions, which
were cured through curing compounds, water sprinkling and plastic sheet covering.
Additionally, economic cost comparisons between two conventional curing methods and
curing compound is the other aspect of this research. The compressive strength of
specimens with curing compounds for both C-25 and C-40 in laboratory and samples
exposed to field weather conditions test, achievedthe desired physical requirement. Water
sprinkling and plastic sheet covering methods were effective in compressive strength than
curing compounds. Water absorption tests also showed that immersion curing, water
sprinkling and plastic sheet covering curing methods have less water absorption than
curing compounds. This indicates that immersion curing, plastic sheet cover and water
sprinkling curing methods lead to better concrete quality than curing compounds and
reduce unsaturated surface of concrete than the considered curing compounds. The four
products of liquid membrane–forming concrete curing compounds were not effective in
water absorption for samples exposed to weather conditions, this also indicate poor
concrete quality. The cost computed for water sprinkling, burlap use and curing
compounds curing methods show that the water sprinkling method of curing is less costly
than the two methods of curing and burlap covering is the next with less cost. Thus, liquid
membrane–forming concrete curing compounds produced in Ethiopia are effective in
compressive strength but not in water absorption and interms of cost