The influence of curing on both global hydration and local microstructure has been highlighted. Low temperature calorimetry has been shown to be particularly effective in understanding the developing pore structure in hydrating cement pastes. The connectivity of these pores is strongly influenced by w/c and curing conditions, and in turn will dramatically impact the permeability, resistance to freezing and thawing, and overall durability of the final concrete. Curing for strength and curing for durability may require different curing practices to promote development of the microstructural features that are most beneficial in each case: low porosity with small pores and a discontinuous capillary pore network, respectively. Preliminary recommendations for curing have been provided, ranging from the recently implemented usage of internal curing, through conventional external curing, to a seemingly counterintuitive procedure of sealed/saturated curing. Each has the potential for optimizing the performance of a different class of concrete and the field practitioners will surely determine the viability and range of applicability of each approach over the years to come.
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