Effect of steam curing on surface permeability of concrete: Multiple transmission media

Nowadays, steam curing has become an effective way to produce high early strength concrete prefabricated elements. However, this curing regime has been proved to lead to the heat damage on the microstructures and properties of concrete. Therefore, how to characterize the heat damage, and the impact of heat damage on the durability of concrete is a key issue. In this study, three treatment temperatures were employed to study the heat damage of steam-cured concrete. In addition, the surface gas permeability (SGP), water intentional spraying tests (WIS), pore structure, TG-DSC and SEM were measured to analyze the effects of curing regimes on performance of steam-cured concrete. The results indicate that there are differences in the surface and interior of steam-cured concrete, and surface permeability (SGP and WIS) can characterize these differences. Meanwhile, high temperature steam curing is detrimental to the long-term impermeability of concrete, and surface treatment can improve this phenomenon. The surface covered by geotextile has the lowest permeability and relatively dense microstructures. [Display omitted] •Surface gas permeability, water intentional spraying and pore structure of steam-cured concrete was tested.•Surface permeability (gas and water) was used to quantitatively characterize the heat damage of concrete by steam curing.•The change of the surface permeability indicates the heat damage in steam-cured concrete.•Treatment temperature and surface treatment have a significant effect on the surface permeability of steam-cured concrete.