**A Simple, Plain-Language Explanation of Advanced Nano Silica Technology**
If you’ve heard of E5® but aren’t entirely sure how it works inside the concrete, you’re not alone. Contractors, engineers, and owners often know the keywords—“nano silica,” “internal curing,” “densification”—but the actual mechanism can feel abstract.
This guide breaks it down in clear, practical terms so you can understand why E5® is changing the way concrete is cured and how it helps create stronger, more durable, more predictable slabs.
No hype. No technical jargon. Just the science.
At the heart of the E5® Nano Silica system is colloidal silica—extremely fine, highly reactive silica particles suspended in water. These particles are engineered with:
Controlled particle size
High surface area
Uniform dispersion
Concrete-specific chemistry
Because they’re so small and so evenly distributed, they can:
Improve pumpability and finishability
Fill small voids between cement grains
Reduce micro-air pockets
Increase the density of the hardened paste
Dense concrete matters. A denser microstructure reduces permeability, increases abrasion resistance, and supports longer service life. Nano silica lays the foundation for this.
Traditional curing focuses on the surface:
Spraying water
Fogging
Wet burlap
Curing compounds
Those methods are helpful, but they address only the top fraction of an inch. Modern low water-to-cement ratio mixes often dry out internally, long before external water can help.
ACI defines internal curing as supplying water from inside the concrete using internal reservoirs that release moisture when the cement needs it. Historically, this meant pre-wetted lightweight aggregate.
The goal is simple:
Internal curing improves:
Hydration efficiency
Strength development
Dimensional stability
Long-term durability
E5® takes this well-established concept—and replaces heavyweight aggregate logistics with nano-scale precision.
E5® Internal Cure uses nano silica particles to hold water inside the concrete during early hydration. In effect, each particle acts as a tiny “anchor” that retains water that would otherwise evaporate.
Here’s the simple version:
Nano silica grabs onto water molecules in the mix.
That water becomes part of an internal reservoir—not surface bleed water.
As the cement hydrates and demands more moisture, that internal reservoir releases water exactly where hydration occurs.
The E5® chemistry controls both:
Water of transport (the excess water needed for placement)
Water of convenience (the water needed for hydration)
Because this moisture remains within the matrix, E5® replaces the need for wet curing and curing compounds entirely.
The result is a more complete, more controlled hydration process.
While managing internal moisture, nano silica also performs a second critical function: particle packing and densification.
The particles:
Fill micro-voids and capillaries
Reduce bleed channels
Support a more uniform paste structure
Contribute to lower permeability
A tighter microstructure leads to:
Improved water and chloride resistance
Greater freeze–thaw durability
Better protection of reinforcing steel
Longer-lasting slabs with fewer repairs
Independent testing shows that combining E5® Internal Cure with E5® Liquid Fly Ash reduces water penetration by up to 79%—a clear indicator of lower permeability and improved durability.
Even though E5® works at the micro level, the benefits are very visible on the jobsite.
More workable mix
Easier pumping and placing
Better finishing window
No need for additional surface water
Less sensitive to sun, wind, or low humidity
Field reports and third-party testing show improved slump and finishability with no added air content and set times within ASTM C494 limits.
Higher density and surface hardness
Reduced shrinkage and curling
Lower permeability
Less moisture-related flooring or roofing risk
Increased abrasion resistance
You’re improving the entire depth of the slab—not just the surface.
E5® Internal Cure is the backbone, but it’s part of a broader nano silica family designed to simplify curing, improve durability, and reduce long-term moisture risk:
Internal curing + densification + moisture control.
A nano silica pozzolanic suspension that can replace up to 15% of cement or other SCMs while enhancing durability and salt resistance.
A finishing-stage topical that reacts with the nano silica already inside the slab to create a tight, protective near-surface layer—especially useful under adhesives and membranes.
Together, these products help reduce:
Wet curing
Curing compounds
Densifiers
Sealers
Stand-alone moisture mitigation systems
They also support shorter schedules by reducing steps, materials, and field operations—without compromising durability.
No. E5® Internal Cure is an integral admixture added at batching. It works inside the concrete, not on top.
Yes. E5® Internal Cure is specifically designed to eliminate wet curing and curing compounds while retaining moisture needed for hydration.
Anywhere concrete is used:
Pavements & parking decks
Slabs on grade
Slabs on metal deck
Structural elements
Civil infrastructure
Industrial, commercial, and residential projects
It was designed specifically for them.
E5® works by combining two powerful mechanisms:
Nano silica retains and manages water inside the concrete so hydration continues efficiently—without external curing.
Ultra-fine particles fill voids and capillaries, creating a denser, more durable concrete matrix.
Together, these effects reduce shrinkage, curling, and permeability while improving strength, finishability, and long-term durability. The process makes concrete easier to place on day one and significantly more robust for decades.
E5® isn’t a coating or a shortcut—it’s a fundamental shift in how concrete is cured and protected.
Get a deeper, data-driven look at:
Hydration efficiency
Shrinkage reduction
Permeability and chloride resistance
Abrasion performance
Adhesion and moisture testing under flooring systems
Comparisons between internal curing and traditional wet curing
Share it with your engineering team or ready-mix supplier to evaluate how E5® Nano Silica can support your next project with more durable, predictable, and long-lasting concrete.