MCC 2017 Fall Symposium

"Surface Defects and How to Prevent Them" was presented by Michelle Wilson, FACI, Director of Concrete Technology at the Portland Cement Association. Troubleshooting concrete hardened properties was the focus of the presentation. Typical problems encountered by finishers such as bug holes, honey comb, shrinkage, discoloration, strength gain and thermal cracking were addressed. Environmental concerns and concrete durability plus new applications for concrete were also addressed.  John Lee, P.E., LEED® A.P., Director of Business Development at Cemstone  sated that "Michelle's presentation was a great example of how the setting of expectations, specifications, mix design and insallation all work together in making good, quality concrete that is durable, long lasting and aesthetically pleasing."

“Proper Concrete Curing & Sealing Techniques & Materials” was presented by Bill John, Technical Sales Representative at TK Products. This presentation answered the following questions: Why should you cure and seal? When should you cure or seal for best results? What benefits when done properly? What are the best ways to cure or seal?  Greg Swanson, Field Coordinator at Opus Design Build, summarized Bill's presentation: "Bill John shared great examples of failures and wins on understanding customers' expectations."

Finally, Dan Vruno, PE, Principal Engineer at American Engineering Testing, presented "Performance of Recycled Aggregate Concrete" which present the most recent Minnesota Concrete Council Research Study on the performance of recycled aggregate concrete. The study results show great potential for the future use of recycled aggregate concrete.