Curing consists of maintaining an appropriate temperature and moisture content in the concrete for a defined period of time so the concrete will develop in such a way that the desired material properties can be obtained. A member having high surface area-to-volume ratio, makes it difficult to maintain a uniform moisture content throughout the surface. Plastic shrinkage occurs when the rate of water loss from the surface exceeds the rate at which bleed water is available. The four primary factors that affect plastic shrinkage are concrete temperature, air temperature, wind velocity and relative humidity. Plastic shrinkage cracking will occur if the concrete is too stiff to flow but has not yet developed enough strength to withstand the tensile stresses that develop due to non-uniform shrinkage. Curing compounds are used to help prevent shrinkage cracking by reducing the evaporation of water from the concrete. Shrinkage cracks can also develop if the curing compound is applied too late after an excessive amount of evaporation has already occurred.

Concrete pavements are commonly cured using membrane forming curing compounds. Membrane-forming curing compounds typically consist of a wax or resin that is emulsified in water or dissolved in a solvent. The compound is applied to the pavement / any concrete surface and then the water or solvent constituent evaporates leaving the wax or resin to form a membrane over the surface of the pavement/ any concrete surface. This membrane helps retain moisture in the concrete.

When a curing membrane has been applied on a concrete surface, it is useless to water cure it directly because this external water will not penetrate within concrete due to the presence of this impervious membrane.