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Cool-Crete removes heat from concrete curing process

Words: Dwayne AucoinCool-Crete Technology Group LLC announces Cool-Crete, delivering what may be the first change in the fundamental chemistry of concrete since the development of portland. For end users, Cool-Crete eliminates the harmful effects of hydration, offers the promise of longer life and improves cosmetic appearance by eliminating the need for expansion cuts.

Like traditional concrete, Cool-Crete is made from typical portland cement, sand and stone. But it modifies the typical hydration reaction that has always been the source of concrete’s problems with a proprietary process. The result is concrete that behaves differently when mixed — resulting in big advantages before and after it sets up.

In traditional concrete, when water meets portland cement it creates crystals — a process that creates heat and drives off the bleed water quickly. As the water migrates-out, it leaves microscopic voids around the calcium hydroxide crystals, introducing porosity to the cured product.

Anyone who has worked with concrete knows this reaction can be difficult to control, leading to cracking, weakness, slab curl and other common problems.

“Many of the innovations involving concrete over the years have attempted to manage the hydration reaction, or at least mitigate its negative impact.” says Dwayne Dillingham, the developer of Cool-Crete and president of Cool-Crete Technology Group. “But these have always been based on the paradigm that heat of hydration is unavoidable.”

Cool-Crete changes that paradigm. It alters the chemistry through which concrete cures, eliminating the first-phase heat of hydration — and its harmful effects.

For end users, the result is a better concrete product with the promise of a longer life. It is significantly less porous, making it less susceptible to the freeze-thaw cycle. Reduced porosity means it shrinks less while drying, and is denser when fully cured. It’s resistant to slab curl and cracking. And its cosmetic appearance is improved without the need for expansion cuts.

The benefits for contractors include:
  • Increased pot life: Without the initial temperature spike of a traditional concrete mix, Cool-Crete takes longer to set up, meaning it can travel farther, last longer on job sites and reduce lost loads.

  • Increased strength: In cylinder testing, Cool-Crete achieves 20-30 percent higher strength using smaller amounts of portland cement.

  • Longer working time: Slower set-up time means more working time in hot weather, with less risk of cold joints and other jobsite issues.

  • Improved safety: A lower working temperature and lower pH when wet means reduction in contact burns and related injuries.

  • Elimination of costly processes: Cool-Crete cures evenly regardless of temperature and humidity, so cooling equipment isn’t needed to manage temperature. Slower curing vastly reduces shrinkage, eliminating the need for expansion cuts and other post pour processes.
For over 50 years K&E Chemical Company, Inc. has been an industry leader in the development of ecofriendly masonry restoration products including cleaners for cement, brick and concrete. The company’s ecofriendly cleaner products do not contain corrosive acids or hydroxides, which means that they will not erode or “eat away” at the surface of the stone. This fact alone has made K&E the choice of thousands of masonry restoration professionals worldwide. Along with ecofriendly restoration cleaners, the company’s product line offering includes every aspect of the restoration process from degreasers and grout cleaners to high performance sealers and strippers.
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