Abstract:
Disclosed is a method of curing concrete including wetting a target curing concrete surface; placing a first portion of a curing blanket on the target curing concrete surface; and placing a second portion of the curing blanket on the target curing concrete surface. The first portion and the second portion overlap, but are not otherwise connected for curing. Overlapped and nonoverlapped segments of each of the first and second portions are substantially similar. Also disclosed is a method of curing concrete including wetting a target curing concrete surface; disposing a curing blanket on the target curing concrete surface; and roller squeegeeing the curing blanket on the target curing concrete surface.

Description:
REFERENCE TO EARLIER APPLICATION  
       [0001]     This application incorporates by reference and is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/897,420, filed Jul. 23, 2004. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Producing quality hydraulic concrete or cement requires proper curing. Curing increases concrete strength, hence structural value. Proper curing is necessary for producing water-tight, durable concrete.  
         [0003]     Curing involves chemical changes that result in setting and hardening. These chemical changes occur over a considerable period of time in the presence of water. Water retention is important in the curing of hydraulic concretes, i.e., concretes that are dependent on a hydration reaction for hardening, and concretes that are bound with hydraulic concretes. Thus, concrete must be kept wet after it has set for as long a period as is practicable.  
         [0004]     The most common hydraulic cement for construction purposes is Portland cement. Portland cement is a heat-treated mixture primarily of calcium carbonate-rich material, such as limestone, marl or chalk, and material that is rich in Al 2 SiO 2 , such as clay or shale. Portland cement comes in several varieties that are distinguished by such characteristics as the rate of acquiring strength during curing, the amount of heat of hydration generated, and resistance to sulfate attack. Other types of hydraulic cements include aluminous cement, chalcedony cement, which is made from amorphous quartz, and Roman cement, which combines burnt clay or volcanic ash with lime and sand.  
         [0005]     “Concrete” describes a mixture of stone, gravel or brushed rock and sand, referred to as “aggregate,” which is bound by a cement. As used herein, “concrete” includes reinforced concrete, concrete that contains organic or silica-based fibers or metallic wire, cable or rods as a reinforcing substance, and polymer-cement concrete that is bound with Portland cement and a polymerized monomer or resin system. Hydraulic concrete and cement are referred to herein as “concrete.” Additional information on the composition and characteristics of concrete may be found in Basic Construction Materials by C. A. Herubin and T. W. Narotta, third edition, Reston Book, Englewood, N.J., which is incorporated herein by reference.  
         [0006]     While curing concrete may be water dependent, too much water can interfere with curing. When concrete is freshly poured, the water content thereof may be higher than that which is optimal for proper curing. Thus, some water loss during curing can be useful. However, if water loss during curing is too great, the cured concrete will exhibit reduced strength. Excess drying during curing can lead to surface crack formation.  
         [0007]     Maintaining an optimal amount of water in contact with curing concrete optimizes the strength and durability of the concrete. For example, if concrete is kept wet for the first ten days after setting, strength and durability thereof increase 75 percent over ordinary aging at dry surface conditions. Consequently, slowing the rate of evaporative water loss from curing concrete is a widely recognized goal.  
         [0008]     Inconsistent coverage on a curing surface, i.e. permitting bubbles or voids to occur between the curing blanket and the curing concrete surface, promotes localized surface weaknesses and discoloration.  
         [0009]     A method for controlling excessive drying of curing concrete includes drenching with water the forms and surfaces intended for receiving the fresh concrete prior to pouring, then dampening the curing concrete with frequent sprinklings after pouring.  
         [0010]     Another method for controlling excessive drying during curing includes, following initial wetting of the surface of freshly poured concrete, such as by applying water as a spray, mist or steam, covering the concrete with a moisture barrier. Typical moisture barriers have included burlap and cotton mats, wet rugs, moist earth or sand, sawdust and other objects likely to act as a moisture barrier. Some of these other objects have included water-proof papers and plastic films.  
         [0011]     A further method for controlling excessive drying during curing includes applying a liquid membrane-forming composition. The composition typically contains natural or synthetic waxes or resins and a volatile carrier solvent. The composition forms, after volatilization of the carrier solvent, a moisture barrier that slows the rate of moisture loss from concrete.  
         [0012]     Concrete curing blankets exist for covering water-wetted concrete and extending the duration of damp conditions on the curing surface thereof. One blanket is formed of coarse, woven burlap fibers carried by a thermoplastic sheet heat sealed or melted onto the fabric. Burlap blankets pose many problems including exhibiting hydrophillically greasiness, large void areas that promote non-uniform concrete surface wetting, stiffness and non-resiliency that prevents conformity to surface irregularities, and fibers that snag on concrete surfaces, which may lead to undesired markings.  
         [0013]     Another curing blanket specifically excludes hydrophillic fibers as being prone to rot and absorb water that should wet the concrete. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,485,137, issued Nov. 27, 1984, to R. L. White for Concrete Curing Blanket.  
         [0014]     What is needed is a curing blanket that maintains uniform wetness against a curing concrete surface and conforms to irregular surfaces thereof.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0015]     The invention overcomes the disadvantages noted above by providing a concrete curing blanket that maintains uniform wetness against a curing concrete surface and conforms to irregular surfaces thereof. To that end, the invention provides a curing blanket that has a first layer and a second layer airlaid on the first layer. The first layer is a vapor barrier. The second layer includes bi-component or multibond fibers and short-fiber fluff pulp obtained from Kraft processing.  
         [0016]     The invention provides improved elements and arrangements thereof, for the purposes described, which are inexpensive, dependable and effective in accomplishing intended purposes of the invention. Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments which refers to the accompanying drawing. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0017]     The invention is described in detail below with reference to the following figures, throughout which similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently, wherein:  
         [0018]      FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional detail view of an embodiment of a curing blanket constructed according to principles of the invention;  
         [0019]      FIG. 2  is an environmental perspective view of a method of using the curing blanket of  FIG. 1  according to principles of the invention;  
         [0020]      FIG. 3  is a schematic representation of the method of  FIG. 2 ; and  
         [0021]      FIGS. 4-10  are graphical representations of properties of the curing blanket of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0022]     Referring to  FIG. 1 , an embodiment of a curing blanket  10  constructed according to principles of the invention has a first layer  15  airlaid on a second layer  20 . Curing blanket  10  maintains an optimal amount of water in contact with an entire surface of curing concrete, which optimizes the strength and durability of the concrete when cured.  
         [0023]     As used herein, “airlaid” refers to a fibrous structure formed primarily by a process involving deposition of air-entrained fibers onto a mat, typically with binder fibers, and typically followed by densification and thermal bonding. In addition to traditional thermally bonded airlaid structures, those formed with non-tacky binder material and substantial thermally bonded, “airlaid,” according to the present invention, also includes co-form, which is produced by combining air-entrained dry, dispersed cellulosic fibers with meltblown synthetic polymer fibers while the polymer fibers are still tacky. “Airlaid” also includes an airformed web to which binder material is added subsequently. Binder may be added to an airformed web in liquid form, e.g., an aqueous solution or a melt, by spray nozzles, direction injection or impregnation, vacuum drawing, foam impregnation, and so forth. Solid binder particles also may be added by mechanical or pneumatic means.  
         [0024]     Because airlaid hydrogen bonded materials tend to disintegrate with prolonged exposure to water, airlaid natural fiber mats have not been considered optimal for concrete curing. The invention overcomes this problem by incorporating natural cellulose material with synthetic and multibond fibers in the resultant airlaid structure.  
         [0025]     First layer  15  contains bi-component or multibond fibers, fluff pulp, ethylene vinyl acetate and latex. More specifically, first layer  15  includes 28.5-31.25%, preferably 30%, synthetic bonding fibers. Synthetic fibers contribute as much as 3.8-4.25%, preferably 4%, by weight. Bi-component and multibond fibers are coaxial fibers having an inner component with a higher melting temperature than an encasing outer component. When heated, the outer component melts for bonding with other elements, while the inner component does not melt, thus lending integrity and strength to the bonded material. The inner and outer components may be selected from polypropylene, polyethylene or other compositions suitable for the purposes described.  
         [0026]     First layer  15  also includes 69.5-72%, preferably 70%, natural cellulose fluffed pulp fiber. The fluff pulp, preferably, is derived from southern softwood, northern softwood, southern hardwood, northern hardwood, kanaf or eucalypus fibers. These materials provide short fibers that offer great surface area for trapping and absorbing water. The fibers derived from protein based, cotton, agave, plant stalk (bast) fibers of other mats tend to be much longer, hence afford less surface area for trapping and absorbing water. These longer fibers also have waxes, resins and some lignin present that discourage entrapping water. These longer fibers are less absorbent and exhibit geometries that are not as favorable as the present cellulose from soft and/or hardwood fibers. Further, the pulp fibers of the present invention also tend to provide greater tensile strength than the fibers of other mats.  
         [0027]     The fluff pulp of first layer  15  is obtained from a Kraft process, rather than mechanical pulping. Mechanical pulping does not produce a clean product, free of the waxes, resins, silicone, turpentine that are present in the virgin materials recited above. Bleached Kraft pulp provides optimal absorption capabilities by producing clean cellulose. The Kraft process produces a bulkier cellulose with a white absorptive component that prevents discoloration of a concrete surface in contact therewith. Discoloration commonly occurred with “burlap style” materials.  
         [0028]     Ethylene vinyl acetate promotes great integrity and reduces dusting.  
         [0029]     The latex bonding agent is sprayed on natural fibers or part of the bi-component or multibond fibers aids in strengthening the adhesion among the bi-component or multibond fibers and other materials in first layer  15 . The latex binders may contribute as much as 19.0-21.5%, preferably 20%, by weight.  
         [0030]     The unique composition of curing blanket  10  enables it to wick moisture from oversaturated areas to dry areas. As edges  35  of curing blanket  10  dry, curing blanket  10  wicks moisture from more hydrated areas to edges  35 . Curing blanket equalizes the moisture saturation level therethrough.  
         [0031]     Another embodiment of first layer  15  contains 5-20% super absorbent fibers. Super absorbent fibers are absorbent fibers coated with absorbent material.  
         [0032]     First layer  15  is thermally bonded in a basis weight ranging from 40 gsm to 500 gsm with a waterproof backing having a laminated, extruded or coated polyethylene or polymer latex material. First layer  15 , preferably, is spray coated, which lowers production costs.  
         [0033]     First layer  15  and second layer  20  are bonded with a special water resistant adhesive with a soft point of 210° F.  
         [0034]     Second layer  20  is intended to provide only a vapor barrier, not a protection barrier. Second layer  20  may include an extruded polymer film as an impervious backing.  
         [0035]     A target caliper or thickness for curing blanket  10  is 1.78-1.82 mm, preferably 1.80 mm. A target tensile strength for curing blanket  10  is 1295-1350 g/50 mm, preferably 1300 g/50 mm. A target absorbency for curing blanket  10  is 16.5-18.5 g/g, preferably 17 g/g.  
         [0036]     Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , a method of curing concrete according to principles of the invention includes a step  100  of wetting a target curing concrete surface C and a step  105  of disposing curing blanket  10  on target curing concrete surface C with first layer  15  nearest thereto. The method preferably includes a step  110  of re-wetting edges of curing blanket  10  so that water wicks to all areas of curing blanket  10 . The method also includes a step  115  of removing curing blanket  10  from target curing concrete surface C after target curing concrete surface C is cured.  
         [0037]     In practice, prior to performing step  100  or step  105 , a manufacturer ships rolls  25  of curing blanket  10  on pallets (not shown) to a site where concrete is to be poured. On each roll  25 , curing blanket  10  has a width  30  defined by edges  35 . Each pallet contains approximately twelve rolls  25  that provide approximately 10,000 square feet of coverage. Each roll  25  is encased and protected with shrink wrap (not shown) to minimize exposure to contamination until curing blanket  10  is applied to target curing concrete surface C during the wet cure process. The shrink wrapping allows curing blanket  10  to be stored outside during construction.  
         [0038]     Step  100  involves misting or flooding target curing concrete surface C as specifications require.  
         [0039]     After removing the protective shrink wrap (not shown), concrete workers perform step  105  by slowly rolling curing blanket  10  onto target curing concrete surface C. Properly aligning and rolling curing blanket  10  reduces the possibility of forming wrinkles in curing blanket  10  or trapping air thereunder.  
         [0040]     Once disposed on target curing concrete surface C, curing blanket  10  becomes saturated with water and increases in weight dramatically. The weight increase allows for rolling out multiple adjacent lengths of curing blanket  10 , preferably with an overlap of two to four inches, without having to lap, tape, weigh down or otherwise restrain adjacent edges  35  to maintain uniform, void-free coverage of target curing concrete surface C. Since the airlaid structure of curing blanket  10  is so absorptive and takes longer to dry out, moisture, hence weight, dissipate slower, further eliminating the need to restrain edges  35 .  
         [0041]     In the unlikely event a wrinkle (not shown) occurs in curing blanket  10  during application, the method may include a step  120  of eliminating a wrinkle in curing blanket  10 , which would be performed between step  105  and step  110 . Step  120  involves cutting curing blanket  10  across width  30  of the affected area with a razor. Three- to four-foot sections on each side of the wrinkled area are peeled away then reapplied to target curing concrete surface C by gently, simultaneously stretching and lowering the sections back onto the wet cure surface.  
         [0042]     Because curing blanket  10  absorbs and retains significant amounts of water, curing blanket  10  adheres to target curing concrete surface C like no other curing blanket and insures a more complete, uniform wet cure and surface appearance that other curing blankets.  
         [0043]     In the unlikely event a bubble (not shown) forms under curing blanket  10  after application, the method may include a step  125  of eliminating an entrapped bubble. Step  125  involves applying a roller squeegee or a wide soft bristle push-squeegee to guide the bubble (not shown) to the nearest unlapped edge  35 . Squeegee roller application ensures 100% contact between curing blanket  10  and target curing concrete surface C. Removing entrapped bubbles in this manner is preferred for slab on grade/tilt up construction projects.  
         [0044]     Step  110 , preferably, involves gently spraying water around edges  35  of curing blanket  10  in an amount sufficient for curing blanket  10  to wick water to all areas thereof and providing 100 percent humidity to target curing concrete surface C, as recommended for a wet curing application.  
         [0045]     Step  115  involves folding curing blanket  10  back onto itself in three- to four-foot sections until an entire curing blanket section is folded. The foregoing is repeated until all of curing blanket  10  disposed on target curing concrete surface C is folded into a removable condition. As curing blanket  10  is intended for one-time use, once removed, folded curing blanket  10  should be disposed of properly.  
         [0046]     Embodiments of curing blanket  10  have been tested extensively. Samples of curing blanket  10  measured approximately 8 by 12 inches and had a 1.0 mm/ply thickness.  
         [0047]     Table 1 summarizes results of a water vapor transmission and permeance test performed on curing blanket  10  in general accordance with ASTM E96-00, “Standard Test Methods for Water Vapor Transmission of Materials” using the water method.  FIGS. 4-7  show the portion of data used to calculate results.  FIGS. 4 and 5  pertain to test samples oriented such that first layer  15  was vertically superior to second layer  15 , defining a fibers up position, and  FIGS. 6 and 7  pertain to test samples oriented such that second layer  15  was vertically superior to first layer  15 , defining a fibers down position.  
                                                                                                                         TABLE 1                           Water Vapor Transmission and Permeance Data                Water vapor transmission   Permeance            Specimen   SI units   inch-pound units   perm       identification   (grams/h · sq m)   grains/h · sq ft   (grains/h · sq ft · in. Hg)            and orientation   average       average       average                    Specimen 1 fibers up   0.040   0.040   0.057   0.057   0.14   0.14       Specimen 2 fibers up   0.040       0.067       0.14       Specimen 3 fibers down   0.042   0.037   0.060   0.053   0.14   0.13       Specimen 4 fibers down   0.032       0.046       0.11            Average   0.040   0.058   0.13                  
 
         [0048]     For this test, sample material was cut into four 52-mm diameter circles and placed on anodized aluminum permeability cups manufactured by Sheen Instruments Ltd. Two specimens were placed in the fibers up position and two in the fibers down position. The specimens were allowed to equilibrate for seven days in a test room maintained at 73±0.60° C. and 50±2% relative humidity (RH). The specimens then were sealed in the permeability cups over 6 mL reagent water (ASTM D1193 Type IV). A non-volatile, proprietary sealant was used to create a leak-free seal between the film and the cup faying surfaces. The specimens remained in the test room at 73±0.60° C. and 50±2% RH and were weighed in the room twice per week. The specimens were weighed until the weight change versus time was constant per ASTM E96. The referenced material meets the performance requirement for water vapor transmission rate of no more than 10 grams/m 2  in 24 hours (0.42 grams/hm 2 ) in ASTM C 171-03, “Standard Specification for Sheet Materials for Curing Concrete.” 
         [0049]     Results for Specimens  1  through  3  were similar, as shown on  FIGS. 4-6 . Specimen  4 , as shown on  FIG. 7 , developed a visible biological growth on the fiber side mid-way through the testing. Specimen  4  has lower water vapor transmission. The accuracy of the balance is 0.01 grams, therefore all data points fall on the horizontal grid lines.  
         [0050]     Another test measured the water retention of curing blanket  10  in accordance with ASTM C156-98, “Standard Test Method for Water Retention by Concrete Curing Materials.” The test involved a composition of mortar containing by weight: 2,660 g concrete; 6,500 g standard sand; and 1,064 mL water to produce flow 35±5. The flow was 35.5% and water-to-concrete ratio was 0.4. Curing blanket  10  met the performance requirement for water loss of no more than 0.55 kg/sq m in 72 hours per ASTM C171-97a, “Standard Specification for Sheet Materials for Curing Concrete.” 
         [0051]     The specific composition of curing blanket  10  provides a thickness, MD dry tensile strength, CD dry tensile strength, CD wet tensile strength, absorbency rate, capacity, brightness, and caliper that allow curing blanket  10  to lay completely flat on, provide increased surface-to-surface contact with, and promote desired, consistent coloration of curing concrete. MD dry tensile strength refers to the tensile strength of a dry sample in the direction of the fibers. CD dry tensile strength refers to the tensile strength of a dry sample transversely to the direction of fibers. CD wet tensile strength refers to the tensile strength of a wet sample transversely to the direction of fibers. Concrete cured with curing blanket  10  are free of localized weaknesses and discolorations caused by bubbles or other contact discontinuities between the curing surface and a curing blanket. Further, increased weight from absorption causes the saturated blanket to remain in place longer and require less attention.  
         [0052]      FIGS. 8-10  graphically describe, respectively, specific absorption, fluid capacity and tensile strength of various configurations of curing blanket  10 . Materials exhibit two different tensile strengths: (1) yield, which is equivalent to the maximum amount of tensile stress the material can withstand yielding or stretching; and (2) failure, which is equivalent to the stress required to achieve material failure or tearing. Table 2, below, presents data averaged from three tests of various configurations of curing blanket  10 .  
                                                                                                                                           TABLE 2                           Preliminary Test Data                        Pulp   Pulp   Pulp   Pulp   Burst                   Capac-                   Basis       Up   Up   Down   Down   Index           %   Capac-   ity       Capacity       Sample   Wt.   Caliper   Mullen   Mullen   Mullen   Mullen   (kPa   Tensile   Tensile   Elonga-   ity   Index   Capacity   Retention       Type   (gsm)   (mm)   (psi)   (kPa)   (psi)   (kPa)   m2/g)   (N/5 cm)   Index   tion   (g)   (g/g)   Retention   Index                    60 gsm   109   0.389   16   110   18.8   130   1.19   62   0.57   11.64   9.34   2.38   4.01   1.02       pulp sheet       @ 30# poly       60 gsm   129   0.398   20.5   141   22.4   154   1.2   73   0.57   10.45   8.54   1.84   4   0.86       pulp sheet       @ 45# poly       60 gsm   157   0.296   25.8   178   27.3   188   1.2   95   0.6   8.65   3.88   0.69   2.21   0.39       pulp sheet       @ 60# poly       100 gsm   151   0.808   28   193   35.7   246   1.63   64   0.42   12.54   21.99   4.03   6.49   1.19       pulp sheet       @ 30# poly       100 gsm   158   0.79   24.1   166   30   207   1.31   69   0.44   12   21.04   3.7   9.76   1.71       pulp sheet       @ 45# poly       100 gsm   201   0.718   30.3   209   37.7   260   1.3   106   0.53   10.55   18.72   2.59   7.54   1.04       pulp sheet       @ 60# poly       Non-woven   305   1.646   237.5   1636   257.2   1772   5.82   485   1.59   64.06   17.36   1.58   1.34   0.12       poly w/       poly       coating                    
         [0053]     The invention is not limited to the particular embodiments described herein, rather only to the following claims.