No, adding water to hardened cement will not improve its strength, and in fact, it can actually weaken it.

Here's why:

• Hydration: When cement mixes with water, it undergoes a chemical reaction called hydration. During this process, the cement binds with the water to form a strong, interlocking crystal structure.
• Hardening: As hydration progresses, the concrete hardens and gains strength.
• Limited Hydration: There's a limited amount of water that can participate in this hydration reaction. Once all the available water has reacted, the hydration process stops.
• Negative effects of additional water:
  • Disrupts existing bonds: Adding water to already hardened cement can disrupt the existing bonds formed during hydration.
  • Creates voids: The additional water may not fully participate in the reaction, leaving behind voids or weak spots in the concrete structure.
  • Expansion and contraction: The extra water can cause the concrete to expand and contract as it dries, leading to cracking.

Therefore, adding water to hardened cement has the opposite effect of what you might desire. It can weaken the concrete and make it more susceptible to cracking.

Here are some additional points to consider:

• Reactivation for specific situations: In rare instances, a technique called "shotcrete repair" involves adding a small amount of water to pre-mixed concrete that has already begun to set but is still workable. This is a specialized technique used by professionals and requires careful control of water content.
• Maintaining moisture during curing: While adding water directly to hardened concrete is detrimental, it's important to keep the concrete moist during the initial curing period (typically 7 days) to allow for complete hydration and optimal strength development. This is usually achieved by covering the concrete with plastic or applying a curing compound.

 

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