Concrete has been in the news several times in the past year. From bridges collapsing after a mere 50 years (by way of comparison, the Pantheon in Rome has a concrete dome roof which is about 2000 years old), to cement (the key component of concrete) being responsible for 8% of CO2 emissions, this substance of which we use 1 ton per year per person has not escaped our notice.
The least we can do is make the concrete we use last as long as possible. To do this it needs to be well-cured: protecting the concrete while it is setting (preventing water escaping) is crucial for minimising cracks and maximising the longevity of concrete. Bad curing is the cause of 80% of all damage to concrete.
A Cure for Concrete 