Electric curing of cement mortar
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Abstract
In this research, the effect of curing with different types of current, current densities/voltage intensity on mortar is studied. The main objective is to explore the outcomes of electric curing on the setting time of CEM-I mortar. For achieving the main objective, an electrical curing setup is designed to accommodate curing with direct current, alternating current and pulsed direct current and the conventional vicat apparatus and its test procedure are modified in order to carry out the testing while a sample is being cured with current. Additionally, the effect of passing current on material properties such as compressive strength and resistivity is also studied. The temperature development during the curing process has also been monitored in the research. The electric charge and power calculation are done, for possible current/voltage regimes. The experiments revealed that the setting time can be altered by electrical curing of CEM-I mortar. The influence of electric curing for the chosen curing period is not significant as revealed from the compressive strength testing while the development of resistivity and temperature reveals that there is a correlation between these two properties. The effect of electric power applied to a sample is reflected in the results of the setting times. In the last chapter the findings of the study are summarised and recommendations, keeping in mind the possibility of expanding research in this field of study, have been made.