Curing blanket
An insulated cover laid over fresh concrete to retain heat and moisture, used to keep concrete above freezing and hydrating in cold weather.
What does curing blanket mean?
Blankets work by trapping the heat concrete generates as it hydrates, so they are most effective when placed early and kept in continuous contact. Edges and corners lose heat fastest and need extra coverage, and blankets removed abruptly on a cold sunny day can crack a slab through thermal shock. Some blankets also serve as moisture retention covers in mild weather.
In practice
Winter flatwork gets blanketed the same day it is placed, and the crew comes back to peel them gradually rather than all at once.