Electrically Cured Concrete: A Comprehensive Review of Material Properties, Technological Innovations, and Practical Applications

Abstract The development of electrically cured concrete (ECC) presents a set of challenges and opportunities, particularly in cold-weather construction. The heat generated by passing an electric current sustains the hydration process, thereby accelerating strength gain and reducing the risk of freezing. Accelerated strength gain causes shorter project duration and more durable concrete. Electric curing serves as a heat source in cold-weather concrete applications. The fresh and hardened properties of ECC have been extensively discussed in various studies. Carbon fibers, steel fibers, graphite, and carbon nanotubes have been used as conductive fillers. Different electric curing regimes have been shown to produce diverse effects on the thermal, mechanical, and durability properties of concrete. Thermal dynamics in ECC have also been reviewed in-depth, shedding light on the energy efficiency and temperature control required for optimal performance. Microstructure was extensively reviewed to address the drawbacks and improvements for the ECC mixes compared to normally cured ones. Laboratory studies have provided valuable data for scaling up the electric curing process that has been tailored according to the pavement deicing electrical setup. This review provides a comprehensive overview of electric curing’s effects on fresh and hardened properties, microstructure, curing methods, and practical field applications.