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Why can concrete lose strength if it dries too quickly?
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Cement
The cement-making process, from crushing and grinding of raw materials, through roasting of the ground and mixed ingredients, to final cooling and storing of the finished product.
If concrete is allowed to dry prematurely, it can lose strength because it experiences unequal tensile stresses that the material cannot resist while in an imperfectly hardened state.1
To prevent this, the process of curing is used, where the concrete is kept damp for a period after pouring. This practice slows the shrinkage that naturally occurs as the material hardens, allowing it to develop its intended structural integrity.1