Use of microwave energy for accelerated curing of concrete: a review
Natt Makul, Burachat Chatveera and Phadungsak Ratanadecho
pp. 1 - 13
Abstract
Microwaves (MWs) are one of the most popular energy sources to heat dielectric materials in various industrial processes. One application is the rapid thermal cure of concrete. Due to the advantages of volumetric heating, MWs can be implemented in a reasonable way to improve the rate of strength development. However, these fields have been grown only gradually, as there has been not much research and practical work over the last years. The climate change issue and the discussion around the non-renewable energy resources triggered a change for better energy-utilizing systems. One is the use of clean energy in the cement and concrete production. Nevertheless, simultaneously efforts also needed to make towards an improvement of concrete properties. Therefore, suitable MWs curing method and processes involved are indispensable factors for research and subsequent developing into applications. The present paper reviews the historical evolution of the MWs energy implementation to cure concrete. It further provides a deeper understanding of this technology and proposes suitable points for future study and development. The first part describes the necessity of thermal curing on the strength development of concrete at early age and then discusses its factors affecting. Also curing criteria and the disadvantages of the conventional methods used to accelerate the rate of hydration reaction of concrete are summarized. The second part reports the implementing method for achieving this purpose covering dielectric properties involved and related heating mechanisms. Finally, some aspects for future studies are proposed to build a forward-complementing knowledge from the current one.
