Patent ID: 8532815

Claim:
A method of curing concrete comprising: (a) providing a quantity of curing concrete having a plurality of surfaces, the surfaces having the largest surface area comprising the primary surfaces thereof; (b) covering all primary surfaces of a quantity of curing concrete with an insulating material such that the insulating material is in thermal contact with the quantity of curing concrete whereby at least a portion of the heat of hydration and the moisture of the quantity of curing concrete is retained therein; (c) continuously detecting the temperature of the quantity of curing concrete; (d) continuously comparing the detected temperature to a predetermined temperature profile, wherein the predetermined temperature profile varies temperature as a function of time; and (e) selectively adding heat to the quantity of curing concrete in response to step (d) when the detected temperature is lower than the predetermined temperature profile, whereby the temperature of the quantity of curing concrete follows the predetermined temperature profile for at least the first 24 hours of the concrete curing process and wherein a heating element for selectively providing heat to the quantity of curing concrete is disposed between the quantity of curing concrete and at least a portion of the insulating material.