[TowerTalk] concrete

[David Gilbert]

That (heat) is not why you should keep the concrete moist.  Concrete is 
a hydraulic cure, meaning it requires water to cure.  If concrete is 
allowed to prematurely dry out it doesn't become strong until it gets 
wet again, and may not ever reach the strength it would have if it had 
remained wet.  A bit of surface water will do almost nothing to affect 
the internal heat generated by curing, but it will greatly facilitate 
the cure itself.

By the way, too much water in the mix is not a good thing either, 
because after the cure is complete the excess water will eventually 
depart leaving small interstitial spaces ... and air is very poor in 
compression.  ;)  The strongest concrete is that which just barely has 
enough water throughout the curing cycle to complete the chemical 
reaction.  That is rarely seen in practice, though, because such a mix 
would be very stiff and hard to work ... certainly difficult to pour.

73,
Dave   AB7E



On 11/1/2013 12:20 PM, Tom Anderson wrote:
> Doug:
>   
> One thing you might do is what I was told when I put in my base back in 1993.  Lightly water the concrete base daily.  I mean lightly, no gushers,  etc. Just a sprinkle for a couple minutes.  This helps take out the heat from the curing concrete.   I mnust have worked because my 4x4x6 ft base is still in fine shape as when I put it in.
>   
> Tom, WW5L
>   
>   
>