Some General Features of Curing Temperature Effects on Strength Behavior of Various Cement-Bound Materials

Abstract

Curing temperature critically influences the strength behavior of cement-bound materials (CBMs), including concrete, mortar, and cement-stabilized soil (CSS). Existing reviews mostly address these systems separately, lacking a unified perspective essential for understanding temperature-driven strength evolution and developing a unified model for nontraditional CBMs. This review introduces CBMs as a unifying concept, attributing variations to aggregate reactivity, binder composition, and water–binder ( w / b ) ratio, and uses quantitative indicators (e.g., relative compressive strength, relative strength gain rate, and normalized ultimate strength) to enable cross-system comparison. By synthesizing extensive experimental evidence and mechanistic studies, three fundamental and interrelated mechanisms have been identified: (1) heat curing universally accelerates early hydration and strength gain, but induces microstructural defects and long-term strength degradation in low- w / b ratio systems (e.g., concrete and mortar), a phenomenon known as the crossover effect (COE); (2) the addition of supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) and clay minerals rich in reactive SiO 2 and Al 2 O 3 promote clinker hydration and refine microstructure through the “dilution effect” and thermally enhanced pozzolanic reactions, thereby mitigating COE; and (3) higher w / b ratios sustain hydration and pozzolanic reactions and reduce microstructural defects, explaining why clay-rich CSS often does not exhibit the COE observed in conventional concrete. These insights lay the groundwork for developing unified predictive frameworks for CBMs under varying curing regimes and inform practical strategies for optimizing low-carbon, high-SCM formulations in realistic curing conditions.