# US 11,999,076 B2 · Systems and methods for curing a precast concrete product > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,999,076 B2 - Document ID: US11999076B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/719,483 - Filed: 2022-04-13 - Published: 2022-07-28 - Granted: 2024-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2019-12-10 - Assignees: Carbicrete Inc. - Applicants: Carbicrete Inc. - Inventors: Mehrdad Mahoutian; Mario Venditti - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11999076B2 ## CPC - B28B 7/18: the holes passing completely through the article - B28B 11/245: {Curing concrete articles (B28B11/242 takes precedence)} - C04B 40/0231: {Carbon dioxide hardening} - Y02P 40/18: Carbon capture and storage [CCS] - B28B: SHAPING CLAY OR OTHER CERAMIC COMPOSITIONS; SHAPING SLAG; SHAPING MIXTURES CONTAINING CEMENTITIOUS MATERIAL, e.g. PLASTER (foundry moulding B22C; working stone or stone-like material B28D; shaping of substances in a plastic state, in general B29C; making layered products not composed wholly of these substances B32B) - C04B: LIME, MAGNESIA; SLAG; CEMENTS; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF, e.g. MORTARS, CONCRETE OR LIKE BUILDING MATERIALS; ARTIFICIAL STONE {(roofing granules E04D7/005)}; CERAMICS (devitrified glass-ceramics C03C10/00); REFRACTORIES; TREATMENT OF NATURAL STONE - Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS ## Abstract A method of curing a concrete product having a cavity is described and includes positioning the concrete product on a base, sealing an opening to the cavity using a cover plate, introducing carbon dioxide (CO2) gas into the cavity to execute carbonation of the concrete product, and, in response to the concrete product attaining a target specification, unsealing the opening. A system for curing a precast concrete product is also described. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of curing a concrete product, the method comprising: obtaining a concrete product defining a cavity and an opening leading into the cavity, the cavity peripherally bounded by an inner surface of the demolded concrete product, the concrete product being a demolded concrete product, wherein the inner surface of the demoulded concrete product is exposed to the cavity and an outer surface of the demoulded concrete product is exposed to an environment outside the demoulded concrete product; positioning the demolded concrete product on a base; sealing the opening using a cover plate supported by the demoulded concrete product; introducing carbon dioxide (CO2) gas into the cavity to execute carbonation of the demolded concrete product, thereby exposing the inner surface of the demolded concrete product to the CO2 gas; and in response to the demolded concrete product attaining a target specification, unsealing the opening. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein introducing the CO2 gas into the cavity includes pressurizing the cavity to a first pressure for a first period of time, followed by increasing the pressure in the cavity to a second pressure for a second period of time. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising introducing the CO2 gas through the cover plate and/or the demolded concrete product. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the opening is one of an open top end of the demolded concrete product and an open bottom end of the demolded concrete product, and positioning further comprises placing the other one of the open top end and the open bottom end onto the base so as to seal the other one of the open top end and the open bottom end. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, further comprising balancing the first and second pressures with the cover plate such that the cover plate continues sealing the opening during presence of the first and second pressures. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising casting and demoulding the demolded concrete product prior to positioning the demolded concrete product, and wherein the steps of positioning the demolded concrete product and introducing the CO2 gas are executed after and proximate in time to the step of demoulding. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the steps of positioning the demolded concrete product and introducing the CO2 are executed immediately after the step of demoulding. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising executing at least one of setting, hydration, and pre-conditioning steps with respect to the demolded concrete product prior to the step of introducing the CO2. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising hydrating the demolded concrete product after completion of the step of introducing the CO2 gas. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising pressurizing the cavity to a pre-determined pressure of the CO2 gas. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further comprising varying the pre-determined pressure of the CO2 gas. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising sealing the opening such that at least some of the CO2 gas is allowed to escape from the cavity during the carbonation of the demolded concrete product. ### Claim 13 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein the casting is executed using one or a combination of zero-slump concrete, wet concrete, self-compacting concrete, Portland cement, and slag. ### Claim 14 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein the casting is executed as one of dry casting and wet casting. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein introducing the CO2 gas is executed by introducing a gas containing CO2 at a concentration of between 5% and 99.5% CO2 by mass. ### Claim 16 A method of curing a concrete product, the method comprising: obtaining a concrete product defining a cavity and an opening leading into the cavity, the cavity peripherally bounded by an inner surface of the demolded concrete product, the concrete product being a demolded concrete product, wherein the inner surface of the demoulded concrete product is exposed to the cavity and an outer surface of the demoulded concrete product is exposed to an environment outside the demoulded concrete product; sealing the cavity; executing carbonation of the demolded concrete product by introducing carbon dioxide (CO2) gas into the sealed cavity, including exposing the inner surface of the demolded concrete product to the CO2 gas; and in response to the demolded concrete product attaining a target specification, unsealing the cavity. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, further comprising disposing at least one container into the cavity prior to sealing the cavity, the at least one container containing the CO2 gas pressurized therein, and wherein introducing the CO2 gas into the cavity includes releasing the CO2 gas into the cavity from the at least one container. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein introducing the CO2 gas into the cavity includes pressurizing the cavity to a first pressure for a first period of time, followed by increasing the pressure in the cavity to a second pressure for a second period of time. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the at least one container includes at least one of a tire tube and a tire, and introducing the CO2 gas into the cavity includes operating at least one valve fluidly connected to the at least one of the tire tube and the tire. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein sealing the cavity further comprises using a cover plate that is one or more of: weighted to balance a pressure of the CO2 gas, hinged to a member disposed proximate the demolded concrete product, and guided relative to the member.