Eco-Cure Article

Environmental Risks of Concrete Cures on Highway Construction

TxDOT Researching New Technologies

Wharton, TX, July 01, 2006 – Since the mid to late 1970’s, hydrocarbon based concrete curing compounds have been an essential component to any typical concrete job. Whether they are used on large highway projects or on smaller sub-division work, curing compounds have proven to be an essential part of the curing process of road and highway construction. However, in the past few years, TxDOT began questioning whether or not curing compounds were in fact properly curing concrete to TxDOT specifications. This uncertainty began an extensive study by researches in the Texas Transportation Institute (TTI) of Texas A&M, which concluded that the use of curing compounds on TxDOT projects were merited, increasing the surface strength of the concrete.

TxDOT is one the largest consumers of curing compounds, utilized on most highway construction projects and applied by large paving contractors. A typical TxDOT highway job may use anywhere from 500 gallons to 30,000 gallons of curing compounds. These volumes posed a concern to many environmental groups, including manufacturers of the Hydrocarbon-based product. The Materials and Pavement Division of TxDOT, decided to look further into existing hydrocarbon-based curing compounds and other alternatives that could reduce the amounts of hydrocarbons used on the jobsite.

With the aid of private organizations, they found that hydrocarbon-based cures have negative effects on the environment, and more likely to be exposed to air and ground pollution when it was accidentally spilled or applied shortly after an unanticipated rain storm. Furthermore, hydrocarbon-based cures, which contain Resins and Mineral Spirits, are inhaled when applied, creating health hazards for the daily operator on the jobsite. Never the less, hydrocarbon-based cures, know in the industry as “Type 2 Resin Cure”, have been proven through the years to be the most appropriate chemical in properly curing heavy highway concrete. This “Catch 22” drove a collaboration of efforts between TxDOT, TTI, and private manufactures to test new technologies in curing compounds.

The optimal solution would be to have a product that is non-hydrocarbon based and have the ideal performance standards as resin-based cures. After several months of research and study, the Material & Pavements Division of TxDOT announced that it has approved
Eco-Cure^TM, a non-hydrocarbon-based, environmentally friendly curing compound that qualifies under both its requirements: Non-Hydrocarbon and meets TxDOT specifications. Contractors like J.D. Abrams, L.P. have already taken measures to use Eco-Cure^TM in Dallas County. Prime Eco Fluids, Inc., manufactures of Eco-Cure^TM, estimate an increase in the usage of the product because of its environmental benefits. Since the turn of the century, Federal and State Departments have been moving much of their efforts and focusing on the environment. TxDOT like many other state agencies are proving to do just that with their concern on hydrocarbon-based cures on the jobsite.

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