Concrete Info Request

Unless it is a dry mix, without water. Expect it to react as you describe. Maybe you will get 2 days credit id you put it on nitrogen. Al the ingredients to develop from plastic phase to solids are in your bucket. The chemistry works out. If you want to retard it, use joy soap, but don't expect it to remain 3000 psi afterwards.

It seems like every time there is a question about concrete, I start butting heads with someone. I really tried to let this go, but I'm just not strong enough.

First off commodity sampler gave us the info that the water cement ratio (w/c) is 0.40, which tells us; right off the bat, that it is not a dry mix. Maximum w/c for a 3 kips mix is 0.50 which is a little more water, but the higher the design strength of concrete the lower the w/c. For example: maximum w/c for a 5000 psi mix is 0.44. I don't know what the deal is with nitrogen, but getting 2 GAs for suggesting the use of dish detergent for a retardent...the idea just makes me dizzy.

Michael Rock is right you will get heat, but as long as the ambient temp is less than 75^o F, design strength will not be effected. The last thing you want is to add more water. In fact; after the initial set you can't physically get any water in the concrete. You do want to keep the concrete from losing water, and for that you can use: curing compound, plastic sheeting, wet burlap, or a curing blanket. Incidentally; a curing blanket is used to keep some of the heat of hydration in to aid proper curing. Mr. Rock is also right that concrete continues to get stronger for a long time. Design strength, however; usually must be achieved in 28 days.

As for you proposal of concrete in the bucket, I predict with great confidence that:

1. 28 day compressive strength will be more like 4500 to 5000 psi
2. When you open the lid there will be about 1/8" to 1/4" water on top of the concrete.
3. There will be no change to any of the properties of the concrete compared to that placed anywhere else, i.e. color, texture, smell, hardness.

O.K guys...I'm ready let me have it. I know I deserve it for not keeping my mouth shut.

Dear PMoon,

I first want to address that the OP's question appeared very hypothetic to me.

Concrete is normally not designed to cure in PVC 5 gallon buckets.

This is why I gave a short form reply, without describing what (that specific) concrete really does.

I spared everyone more details and so did Mr. Rock and yourself. None of us spoke about the type of sand and pea rock or pebbles and the moisture content of it. I also didn't read the chemical reaction formula.

Where to stop?

Difficult to decide.

You posted some useful extra information for the visitors of this forum, especially about the water in the concrete.

An overkill of water makes the concrete very porous and limits the strength.

I named JOY, not every dish detergent, in Europe known as DREFT,(product of Procter and Gamble)

Makes the mortar even smell better.

Commonly, close to every mortar mixer, used as cheap and adequate additive for mortar and critical concrete, it makes the substance easier to handle (smear and slide and last longer especially in the sun)

If you are a man of the trade, don't let it make you dizzy, just try it.

(the dose is about max. 1/3 of a cup to a 1CF mixer - For concrete blocks it might be too soft then)

The cuisines in different cultures are also different and some taste also good.

Isn't it great that CR4 collects global info?

The solidification process of concrete works exponentially in time. That is why in the first days most of the strength is attained.

28 days is worldwide accepted as the time span in which 97-98% of the strength the concrete will ever collect. The 3-2% takes several months to years.

It is not true that concrete becomes stronger afterwards.

On the contrary, depending on exposure to the elements, concrete starts to wear. And the use of less water and plasticizers will make the concrete last longer. I also don't talk about steel or rebar - was not in the bucket.

For supplying the additional info a good answer from me too.