Concrete cracking isn’t just a cosmetic issue—it’s a failure of performance, durability, and long-term value. For contractors, engineers, and owners, cracks signal callbacks, delays, and future liability. And while it’s easy to blame subgrade issues, joint spacing, weather, or finishing mistakes, these are secondary contributors.

The biggest cause of concrete cracking is far more fundamental: shrinkage.

Concrete doesn’t merely “dry.”
It undergoes internal volumetric change as it cures—literally pulling itself apart.

Understanding why this happens is key to eliminating cracking at the source.

The Two Types of Shrinkage Ruining Your Slabs

Concrete needs water to hydrate—yet to make it placeable, we always add more water than the cement actually requires. As the slab begins curing, two major forms of shrinkage occur:

1. Drying Shrinkage (The Surface Problem Everyone Knows About)

Drying shrinkage occurs as excess water evaporates from the slab surface. Heat, low humidity, or wind accelerate this process, causing the top layer to shrink rapidly and form early plastic shrinkage cracks.

This is why contractors use:

• Curing compounds

• Water ponding/misting

• Wet burlap or blankets

These methods slow evaporation at the surface—and they work.
But only for the surface.

Drying Shrinkage is only half the problem.

2. Autogenous Shrinkage (The Hidden Internal Problem)

Autogenous shrinkage is the real culprit behind internal cracking, curling, and long-term durability loss.

This shrinkage occurs inside the concrete as the cement continues hydrating and consumes internal water. In low water-to-cement (w/c) mixes—often used for higher strength and durability—the internal water is not sufficient to complete hydration.

Here’s what happens inside the slab:

• Hydration consumes internal mixing water

• Capillary pores empty

• Internal tension (self-desiccation) increases

• The paste contracts inward

• Micro-cracks form throughout the matrix

And here’s the key:
External curing cannot supply water deep enough to counteract this internal shrinkage.

Traditional curing methods do not penetrate the core—they protect only the top fraction of an inch.

This is why high-performance mixes, ironically, crack the most.

Why Traditional Curing Only Solves Half the Problem

Surface wetting, curing compounds, and blankets are essential for controlling Drying Shrinkage, but they do nothing to address internal moisture loss.

Concrete thicker than 2–3 inches will inevitably see the center dry out and shrink, regardless of surface curing. The deeper the section, the worse the internal self-desiccation becomes.

Think of it this way:

Trying to cure a 12-inch slab with topical curing is like trying to hydrate a sponge by spraying only the top surface. The core never receives enough water.

The result?

• Internal cracking

• Curling

• Loss of density

• Reduced abrasion resistance

• Higher permeability

• Reduced service life

This is exactly what Internal Curing solves.

The Revolutionary Solution: Internal Curing with E5^®

E5^® Internal Cure is the first admixture proven to deliver true internal curing by controlling the “water of convenience” and “water of transport” inside the concrete itself .

Instead of relying on moisture added from the surface, E5^® supplies water from within the matrix, exactly when and where the concrete needs it.

Here’s how it works:

1. E5^® holds water internally (without raising the w/c ratio)

During batching, E5^® behaves as a microscopic water reservoir. This water does not contribute to slump or increase the effective water-to-cement ratio.

2. Negative pressure triggers release

As hydration proceeds and the cement paste begins to self-desiccate (Autogenous Shrinkage), capillary tension forms.

3. E5^® releases water on demand

The moment this internal tension begins, E5^® releases its stored water directly into the hydrating cement, keeping the pores saturated and preventing internal shrinkage.

This means:

✓ Internal shrinkage stresses never build
✓ Micro-cracking is avoided
✓ Hydration continues longer and more completely

Independent testing confirms that E5^® significantly reduces drying shrinkage, improves hydration, and decreases capillary porosity throughout the matrix .

The Durability Dividend: What Happens When Concrete Actually Cures Properly

Stopping shrinkage cracking is only the beginning.

A fully, uniformly hydrated concrete matrix delivers performance benefits across the board:

▪ Dramatically Reduced Permeability

E5^® significantly densifies the matrix, reducing voids and micro-cracks, resulting in concrete that is more resistant to chemical, water, and chloride ingress .

▪ Increased Abrasion Resistance

With E5^® Internal Cure + E5^® Catalyst, slabs achieve “Wear Class: Special” under BS 8204—outperforming industry-standard dry shakes and topical hardeners .

▪ Extended Service Life

Lower permeability = less corrosion = dramatically increased lifespan.

▪ Reduced Curling & Warping

Internal moisture uniformity reduces moisture gradients—one of the biggest drivers of slab curl.

▪ Consistent FF/FL & Better Finishability

E5^® improves workability, retains slump, and enables crews to finish with less effort even in tough weather conditions.

You don’t just get a stronger slab.
You get a slab that performs for decades—not years.

Ready to Stop Managing Cracks and Start Preventing Them?

If your goal is to deliver slabs that:

• Resist cracking

• Stay dense and durable

• Reduce callbacks

• Lower total cost of ownership

• Satisfy architects, inspectors, and owners

Then the solution isn’t another curing compound.

It’s Internal Curing—and the only proven system to deliver it is E5^®.

Build with confidence. Build with internal curing.

Register your project to receive:

• Project-specific pricing

• Full engineering & testing submittal package

• Technical support at every phase

Contact an E5 Expert today to integrate E5^® into your next pour.