J. Cent. South Univ.

(2012) 19: 1155−1162

DOI: 10.1007/s11771-012-1122-2

Influence of subsequent curing on water sorptivity and pore structure of

steam-cured concrete

HE Zhi-min(贺智敏)1, 2, LONG Guang-cheng(龙广成)1, XIE You-jun(谢友均)1

1. School of Civil Engineering, Central South University, Changsha 410075, China;
2. School of Civil Engineering, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China
© Central South University Press and Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2012

Abstract: Steam-cured condition is found to cause larger porosity and worse properties of concrete compared with normal curing
condition. For the sake of seeking effective measurements to eliminate this bad effect of steam-cured condition on concrete, the water
sorptivity and pore structure of steam-cured concretes exposed to different subsequent curing conditions were investigated after
steam-curing treatment. The capillary absorption coefficient and porosity of the corresponding concretes were analyzed, and their
mechanisms were also discussed. The results indicate that water sorptivity and pore structure of steam-cured concrete are greatly
influenced by the curing condition used in subsequent ages. Exposure steam-cured concrete to air condition has an obviously bad
effect on its properties and microstructures. Adopting subsequent curing of immersing steam-cured concrete into about 20 °C water
after steam curing period can significantly decrease its capillary absorption coefficient and porosity. Steam-cured concrete with 7 d
water curing has minimum capillary absorption coefficient and total porosity. Its water sorptivity is decreased by 23% compared with
standard curing concrete and the porosity is 9.6% lower. Moreover, the corresponding gradient of water sorptivity and porosity of
steam-cured concrete both decrease, thus microstructure of concrete becomes more homogeneous.

Key words: steam-cured concrete; water sorptivity; pore structure; curing condition

room.
1 Introduction Although steam curing accelerates hydration of
cement, the internal structure of steam-cured concrete
Precast concrete elements in railway engineering does not completely form just within 10 h steam-cured
infrastructures, such as sleepers, track slabs and period [8−10]. Curing becomes even more important if
pre-stressed concrete beams, are mainly produced by the concrete contains supplementary cementing materials
steam-cured concrete. Concrete exposed to elevated such as fly ash or ground, granulated blast-furnace slag
temperature shows an accelerated hydration and non- or silica fume, and the concrete is subjected to hot and
uniform distribution of hydration products [1−2], which dry environments immediately after casting [11−13]. If
results in a rapid increase of the compressive strength in the potential of concrete with regards to strength and
early age. However, this can also cause a larger porosity durability is to be fully realized, it is most essential to be
and a decrease of strength in later age [3−4]. HO et al [5] cured adequately. Obviously, for steam-cured concrete,
reported that for heat-cured products, the quality of the the subsequent curing after steam-curing treatment is
concrete cover was poor and was equivalent to that of essential to obtain its potential performance. Despite
concrete with only 2−3 d of standard curing. In order to steam-cured concrete has been used widely in the precast
improve the properties and microstructure of steam- industry to speed up production, investigations on
cured concrete and avoid above bad effects caused by steam-cured concrete were focused mainly on their
steam curing process, many measurements, such as strength development and other properties [7−10].
adoption of minerals admixture and optimization of Research on how to eliminate the adverse effect of steam
steam-cured regime, were developed [6−7]. However, curing period on concrete by subsequent curing
some defects such as crack and peeling can still be conditions is limited. This work is intended to find some
observed on the surface layer of steam-cured concrete, simple and effective measurements to improve the
especially on the external surface layer exposed to steam performance and eliminate the flaws of steam-cured

Foundation item: Project(2008G031-18) supported by the Ministry of Railway Science and Technology Research Foundation of China; Project(2010R50034)
supported by the Key Science and Technology Innovation Team Program of Zhejiang Province, China; Project(2010QZZD018)
supported by Leading-edge Research Program of Central South University, China
Received date: 2011−04−25; Accepted date: 2011−09−01
Corresponding author: LONG Guang-cheng, Professor; Tel: +86−731−82656568; E-mail: [email protected]
1156 J. Cent. South Univ. (2012) 19: 1155−1162
concrete by investigating the influence of subsequent temperature of (20±2) °C and a relative humidity more
curing conditions on water sorptivity and porosity of than 90% after demolding for 1 d. The other specimens
steam-cured concrete. were placed in steam room for curing according to
following steam-curing regime after casting. The steam
2 Experimental curing treatment had a total duration of 13 h, including
preheating duration of 2 h, heating duration of 2 h,
2.1 Materials and mixing proportions treatment duration of 8 h with constant temperature of
The cement used was reference Portland cement 60 °C, and cooling duration of 1 h. After 13 h steam
with grade P.O 42.5 provided by China Building Material curing, the specimens were demoulded and then treated
Research Institute. Fly ash Grade I (FA) was supplied by according to corresponding experimental conditions
Xiangtan Power Plant, and its surface area is 512 m2/kg. shown in Table 2.
Ground granular blast furnace slag (GGBS) came from a To insure experimental test accuracy, the water
commercial producer in Changsha, and its surface area is sorptivity and porosity test were carried out by a uniform
470 m2/kg. Xiangjiang river sand was used as fine core sample with a size of d 100 mm × 48.5 mm. The
aggregate, and its fineness modulus is 2.71. Coarse core samples were drilled from cubic specimens with a
aggregate was crushed lime stones. A superplasticizer of size of 150 mm × 150 mm × 150 mm and three thin discs
sulfated naphthalene formaldehyde base produced by (48.5 mm in thickness) were cut from a core sample by
Zhuzhou Bridge Plant was used in the mix, which is means of a diamond saw. The shadow surfaces were used
commercially named as TQN. Tap water was used as for sorptivity tests (see Fig. 1).
mixing water. Experimental mixing proportions and
related parameters of samples are listed in Table 1. 2.3 Water sorptivity of concrete test method
Water sorptivity measurement was carried out
2.2 Preparation of specimens and experimental according to the method developed by HALL [14]. The
apparatus experimental set-up is shown in Fig. 2. In this work, all
Concrete mixtures were prepared in the laboratory the samples were dried at 105 °C for 3 h before water
using a mixer. And after being mixed, concrete samples sorptivity test. The side of the specimens was coated
with a dimension of 150 mm cubes were cast immediately with grease to achieve unidirectional flow.
by vibrating for 3 min with 50 Hz vibrator. Some The water level in the pan was maintained at a
specimens were treated by standard curing at a constant height (4 mm) throughout the experiment. At

Table 1 Mixing proportions of samples

Usage/(kg·m−3) w(TQN)/
Sample
Cement FA GGBS Admixture Sand Crushed stone Water %

C1 350 100 50 0 660 1180 135 1

C2 350 100 50 0 686 1072 150 1.2
C3 350 90 50 20 650 1160 135 1
Note: 1) Slump of fresh sample C2 is 155 mm; others are 70−90 mm; 2) Admixture used is a kind of particle compound mixed by silica fume and rubber
particles.

Table 2 Subsequent curing regimes for specimens after steam-cured

Curing Expression approach for specimens
Description Condition
regime (Taking sample C1 for example)
Three thin discs from upper to bottom named 1B−1, 1B−2,
E1 Standard curing (20±2) °C, 90% RH
and 1B−3, respectively

Three thin discs from upper to bottom named 1ZK−1,

E2 27 d air curing 25 °C, 75% RH
1ZK−2, and 1ZK−3, respectively

3 d water curing + Water: 20 °C, 100% RH;

E3 1Z3−1, 1Z3−2, 1Z3−3
24 d air curing Air: 25 °C, 75% RH
7 d water curing + Water: 20 °C, 100% RH;
E4 1Z7−1, 1Z7−2, 1Z7−3
20 d air curing Air: 25 °C, 75% RH
E5 27 d water curing Water: 20 °C, 100% RH 1ZS−1, 1ZS−2, 1ZS−3
Note: Water curing is refer to soaking in (20±2) °C water.
J. Cent. South Univ. (2012) 19: 1155−1162 1157
is the difference value between the total porosity and the
porosity of macro-pores.

3 Results and discussion

3.1 Comparisons of water sorptivity between steam-

cured concrete and standard curing concrete
To understand the effects of steam curing on the
water sorptivity of concrete, the water sorptivity tests for
27 d aged concretes under steam-curing and standard
curing conditions were carried out by experiments.
Fig. 1 Three thin discs cut from core sample Steam-cured concretes were continued to cure with
standard curing condition until 27 d after steam curing
was finished. The results of water sorptivity of different
samples are shown in Fig. 3. It can be found from Fig. 3
that, there is an obvious difference of water absorption of
samples located between top layer and internal layers of
concrete both for steam-curing and standard curing
conditions. This phenomenon is hereafter referred to as
water absorption gradient. Under steam curing condition,
Fig. 2 Experimental set-up for sorptivity tests

regular intervals (t＝0, 20, 40, 60, 80, 120, 160, 200, 240,
360, 720 and 1 440 min), the mass of the specimens was
measured using a balance with a resolution of 0.1 g after
removing the surface water using a dampened tissue. The
amount of water absorbed was then calculated and
normalized by the cross-section area of the specimen
exposed to the water. Sorptivity tests in this work were
carried out in room where ambient temperature is 25 °C
and relative humidity is 85%.

2.4 Concrete porosity test method

Concrete porosity was measured by mercury
intrusion porometer method (MIP) and mass loss
method. The mass loss of water-saturated concrete under
specified conditions is generally called as “The method
of evaporable water content” [15]. The water-saturated
discs were dried at 90.7% relative humidity by placing
them above a saturated salt solution of barium chloride
contained in desiccators and the mass was recorded at
intervals until the change in mass was negligible. The
mass loss by drying was then converted to volume
fraction of the bulk paste. This particular measure of
coarse capillary porosity corresponds to pore size larger
than 30 nm [16]. For the analysis convenience, the pores
were subdivided into ranges according to the following
rules: Pores with diameter larger than 30 nm are named Fig. 3 Water absorption of sample C1 under standard curing
as macro-pore, and pores with diameter smaller than 30 and steam curing (C1−0 represents specimen located at top
nm are named as capillary pore. The total porosity is surface position; C1−1 represents sample located at 1 cm from
obtained by testing the total mass loss of the sample from top surface position; C1−3 represents sample located at 3 cm
fully saturated state to fully dry state under 105 °C from top surface position): (a) Standard curing concrete;
drying condition for 14 h. The porosity of capillary pores (b) Steam cured concrete
1158 J. Cent. South Univ. (2012) 19: 1155−1162
water absorption difference of concrete samples located concrete under 27 d air curing (E2) condition achieves a
between top and middle positions is found to be highest water sorptivity coefficient, followed by standard
significantly higher than that of samples located between curing (E1) condition, E3 condition and E4 condition,
middle and bottom positions. However, in the case of respectively. The samples subjected to 27 d water curing
standard curing concrete samples, the corresponding (E5) condition have the lowest water sorptivity
water absorption gradient of samples is lower. coefficient, which is 34% lower than that of E2 condition,
Generally, water absorption of concrete sample is 23% for E1 condition, 21% for E3 condition and 8% for
determined by its capillary pore structure. Water E4 condition, respectively. By comparing the water
absorption difference of samples indicates different pore sorption of concrete under water curing, it is found that
structures between them. Pore structures of concrete are the water sorptivity coefficient continually decreases
affected by many factors. For the same mixing with the increase in water curing time. It is generally
proportion, microstructure differences are mainly accepted that the hydration of cement can take place only
attributed to two aspects in this work. Firstly, the when the vapor pressure in the capillaries is sufficiently
apparent density of each component of concrete is high, about 80% of saturation pressure [17]. This is
different, and the settlement of high apparent-density probably due to the lower degree of cement hydration
component (aggregates) is larger when vibrating, thus caused by shorter periods of water curing and due to the
the relatively light cement pastes will raise toward top micro-cracks forming on the surface of concrete resulted
and cause the internal components non-uniform; from the early dissipation of moisture from the concrete
Secondly, curing temperature has great influence on the [18].
concrete internal microstructure. In the case of high The adequate subsequent water curing is important
temperature, the fast hydration in the initial stage leads to to steam-cured concrete after steam curing treatment.
a more heterogeneous distribution of hydration products According to this work, water sorptivity value of steam
and a higher coarsened porosity [7]. Based on the water cured concrete under 7 d water curing (E4) condition is
absorption difference of samples discussed above, it can almost consistent with the value of sample under 27 d
be included that for standard curing concretes, the water water curing (E5) condition, and is much lower than that
absorption gradient mainly results in the settlement of of sample under standard curing. Thus, it can be
high apparent-density component. However, for steam suggested that subsequent 7 d water curing for steam-
cured concrete, the larger gradient in water absorption cured concretes can almost eliminate the adverse effect
between top surface and internal of concrete is mainly of elevated temperature on concrete cover.
caused by the steam curing period, especially the top
surface exposed directly to steam room is damaged, 3.3 Effect of subsequent curing conditions on water
which causes a higher water absorption coefficient. absorption gradient of steam-cured concretes
Steam curing mainly exacerbates the inhomogeneity
From Figs. 4(a) and (b), it is indicated that the
of top surface of steam-cured concrete and causes higher
change of water absorption gradient of standard curing
porosity. This demonstrates that the steam curing
concretes is little with the change of the specimen height.
temperature greatly affects the microstructure of concrete
However, for steam curing concretes, it is observed that
near to the top surface directly exposed to steam. In this
the noticeable gradient appears in absorption
work, the effective depth of steam curing probably is
characteristics of samples located between top surface
located at 1 cm position from top surface.
and the middle (9.7 cm below top surface) or the bottom
3.2 Effect of subsequent curing conditions on water surfaces of samples. Water absorption capacity of
sorptivity of steam-cured concretes samples located on the top surface is the highest, and that
The results of water sorptivity of steam-cured of the middle surface is almost the same as that of
concrete (sample C1) subjected to different subsequent samples located at the bottom surface. From Fig. 4, it is
curing conditions are shown in Fig. 4. One can find from observed that the water absorption gradient of concrete
Fig. 4 that, there exist two different water sorptivity decreases with the increase of water curing time. As far
coefficients of samples in the whole test process as the effect of subsequent curing condition on water
regardless of standard curing concrete or steam-curing absorption gradient of steam-cured sample located
concretes. The initial water sorptivity coefficient at early between top surface and the middle surface is concerned,
age is significantly higher than the subsequent water after 3 d water curing, only slight decrease in the water
sorptivity coefficient at later age for the same specimen. absorption gradient of steam-cured concretes is observed.
This indicates that the water absorption rate of concrete But for 7 d water curing condition, it can be seen that
changes with time. there is significant decrease in water absorption gradient.
Subsequent water curing exerts significant effect on By comparing the variation of concrete water absorption
water sorptivity of steam cured concrete. Steam cured gradient between 7 d water curing (Fig. 4(d)) and 27 d
J. Cent. South Univ. (2012) 19: 1155−1162 1159

Fig. 4 Water absorption of concrete C1 under

different subsequent curing methods: (a) E1
condition; (b) E2 condition; (c) E3 condition;
(d) E4 condition; (e) E5 condition

water curing (Fig. 4(e)), it is found that there is only (C1) is the highest for steam-cured concrete under 27 d
slight difference. It could be included that subsequent 7 d air condition, whereas the porosity of corresponding
water curing on steam cured concrete could effectively middle slice is in rather good accordance with that of the
decrease water absorption gradient of samples. bottom slice and their total porosity values are as low as
those of standard curing concrete, thus the porosity
3.4 Effect of subsequent curing conditions on total gradient of steam-cured concrete under 27 d air condition
porosity of steam-cured concretes is the highest. However, this porosity gradient
Figures 5−8 indicate the variation of total porosity significantly decreases due to subsequent 7 d water
of concretes C1, C2 and C3 with different subsequent curing or 27 d water curing. This phenomenon is
curing methods. From the results shown in Figs. 5−8, it identical to the variation of water sorptivity and water
is observed that the porosity gradient of steam cured absorption gradient of steam cured concrete due to the
concretes (C1, C2 and C3) under 27 d air or 3 d water effect of subsequent water curing discussed above.
curing are both much higher than that of standard curing Table 3 lists the data of total porosity of concretes
concretes. C1, C2 and C3 under different subsequent curing
From Fig. 6, total porosity of top slice of sample methods. According to the data analysis, all slices of
1160 J. Cent. South Univ. (2012) 19: 1155−1162

Fig. 5 Change of porosity gradient of standard curing concretes

Fig. 7 Change of porosity gradient of concrete C2

Fig. 6 Change of porosity gradient of concrete C1 Fig. 8 Change of porosity gradient of concrete C3

Table 3 Data analysis of concrete porosity

Total Difference Total Difference Total Difference
Sample Sample Sample
porosity/% ratio/% porosity/% ratio/% porosity/% ratio/%
1B−1 6.11 100 2B−1 10.18 100 3B−1 5.40 100
1B−2 5.22 −14.5 2B−2 7.82 −23.2 3B−2 4.71 −12.8
1B−3 4.71 −22.9 2B−3 6.67 −34.5 3B−3 4.65 −13.9
1Z3−1 6.32 3.5 2ZK−1 10.86 6.7 3ZK−1 6.74 24.7
1Z3−2 5.12 −16.1 2ZK−2 6.63 −34.9 3ZK−2 4.39 −18.9
1Z3−3 4.84 −20.7 2ZK−3 6.74 −33.8 3ZK−3 4.23 −21.8
1Z7−1 5.73 −6.1 2Z3−1 10.74 5.4 3Z3−1 6.06 12.1
1Z7−2 5.05 −17.3 2Z3−2 7.08 −30.5 3Z3−2 4.45 −17.6
1Z7−3 4.83 −20.9 2Z3−3 6.44 −36.8 3Z3−3 4.27 −21.1
1ZS−1 5.55 −9.2 1ZK−1 6.39 4.6
1ZS−2 4.89 −19.9 1ZK−2 4.91 −19.5
1ZS−3 4.77 −22.0 1ZK−3 4.66 −23.7
Note: Difference ratio = (Total porosity of concrete discs−Total porosity of top disc of corresponding standard curing concrete) / Total porosity of top disc of
corresponding standard curing concrete.
J. Cent. South Univ. (2012) 19: 1155−1162 1161
steam-cured concretes under subsequent 7 d or 27 d was carried out. The pore size distribution of samples
water curing have lower total porosities compared with selected from the top surface of steam-cured concrete
that of samples located at the top slices of standard was measured by mercury intrusion porometer (MIP
curing concrete. Subsequent water curing plays an method). Figure 9 shows the effect of subsequent water
important role in the reduction of total porosity of curing time on pore size distribution of the samples. The
steam-cured concrete. peak value in differential curve corresponds to the most
By comparing the different subsequent curing probable pore diameter which can reflect the
conditions, the concrete specimens cured by water characteristic of the pore size distribution. The smaller
continuously for 27 d exhibit the lowest porosity. It can the most probable pore diameter is, the smaller the
be concluded that the longer the water curing age is, the threshold and median pore diameter are.
lower the total porosity of concrete is. From Table 3, From the results shown in Fig. 9, it can be noted
compared to the top slices of steam cured concretes that subsequent water curing time has an significant
under 3 d water curing, the total porosity of the influence on the pore size distribution of the samples.
corresponding sample under 7 d water curing is 9.6% The peak values of pore size distribution curves are
lower. When water curing time is prolonged from 7 d to scattered for the samples with 1 d or without subsequent
27 d, the decrease of total porosity values is only 3.1%. water curing, and there are some larger pore with
Thus, for the steam-cured concretes, subsequent water diameter larger than 100 nm. However, the pore size
curing for 7 d can significantly improve the cover distribution curves of samples with longer subsequent
concrete pore structure and decrease the total porosity. water curing are very regular and almost all pores are
Especially, subsequent water curing can effectively less than 100 nm. The median pore diameter is about
reduce the total porosity of top surface of steam-cured 0.09 nm for the sample which has subsequent 7 d water
concrete. curing. Moreover, when water curing age is prolonged
These results indicate that the correlation between from 7 d to 14 d, the obvious decrease of median pore
water absorption of concrete and porosity is very close. diameter can be seen. Thus, subsequent water curing can
A more detailed study on the pore sizes distribution effectively decrease the median pore diameter of steam-

Fig. 9 Pore size distribution curves of concrete C2 under different subsequent water curing conditions: (a) 0 d; (b) 7 d; (c) 1 d; (d) 14 d
1162 J. Cent. South Univ. (2012) 19: 1155−1162
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