Curing concrete is essential to a durable crack-free surface, especially with silica fume concrete used often on bridge decks. One approach is to lay wet burlap on the surface and try to keep it wet for seven days, although that is often challenging. Tyler Ley at Oklahoma State University has come up with a better way to meet DOT wet-curing specifications that he calls FiberCure. This is basically a mulch of recycled newspaper that has the consistency of thin oatmeal. Applied through a PVC pipe that also acts as a screed, a 1-inch layer will keep the concrete surface moist for several days or, if covered with plastic sheeting, indefinitely. When curing is complete, the FiberCure can be removed with a shovel and reused or used as mulch since it is nontoxic and biodegradable. See www.fibercure.com.
