What mold materials are commonly used for UHPC components, and what are their advantages?

Common mold materials for UHPC components include four types: steel molds, FRP molds, silicone molds, and wooden molds. Different materials suit different levels of shape complexity, production volume, and precision requirements. Qinglong makes precise material selection based on project needs and, combined with advanced processing techniques, ensures precise component shapes and excellent surface texture. Typical projects, such as the double-curved components of Shanghai New World Plaza and the linear profiles of the Shenzhen Yirui Biotechnology Building, have all been perfectly realized.

1. Steel Molds: The Preferred Choice for Linear Shapes and Mass Production

Steel molds are among the most widely used materials in UHPC production, with core advantages in precision and durability. Material characteristics: machined from Q235 or stainless steel plates, 5-10mm thick, with high rigidity and minimal deformation; Advantages: high dimensional accuracy (deviation ≤±0.5mm), good surface flatness, reusable more than 500 times, suitable for linear and flat-panel components as well as mass production — all of Qinglong's linear UHPC decorative profiles are produced with steel molds, achieving a production rate of 100 pieces/day; Applications: regular-shaped components such as curtain wall panels, decorative profiles, and railings. The 3,000 ㎡ exterior wall panels of the Qinglong Shenzhen Yirui Biotechnology Building were all produced with steel molds, with surface flatness error ≤1mm/m; Technical assurance: Qinglong steel molds use CNC cutting and welding processes, with joints ≤0.1mm, preventing slurry leakage and surface defects.

2. FRP Molds: The Core Solution for Complex Shapes

FRP (fiberglass reinforced plastic) molds are the ideal choice for complex shapes such as double curves, hollow openings, and relief patterns. Material characteristics: composed of glass fiber and epoxy resin, lightweight (density 1.8-2.0g/cm³) with good toughness; Advantages: high forming flexibility, capable of accurately replicating complex curves and textures, with surface finish up to Ra≤0.8μm, suitable for small-batch customized production — Qinglong's double-curved UHPC components use FRP molds, achieving a shape fidelity of 99%; Applications: double-curved curtain wall panels, artistic sculptures, hollow components, etc. The 12 ㎡ extra-large faux-wood translucent UHPC components at Shanghai New World Plaza were formed with FRP molds; Technical assurance: Qinglong FRP molds use a CNC-carved master mold + hand lay-up process, with mold dimensional deviation ≤±1mm, good compatibility with UHPC, and no secondary polishing required on component surfaces after demolding.

3. Silicone Molds: The Ultimate Rendering of High-Precision Textures

Silicone molds specialize in high-precision texture replication, suited for scenarios with extremely demanding surface texture requirements. Material characteristics: formed by curing liquid silicone, with good elasticity and strong sealing; Advantages: high texture replication accuracy, capable of reproducing the fine textures of natural materials such as stone and wood, easy demolding without damaging component surfaces, suitable for artistic decorative components — Qinglong's UHPC stone-look components use silicone molds, achieving a realism level of over 95%; Applications: stone-look decorative panels, relief pendants, refined artistic components, etc. Some colored UHPC components of the Yulin Darongshan Church use silicone molds; Technical assurance: Qinglong uses high-hardness silicone (Shore hardness 60-70), with a mold thickness of 10-15mm and built-in FRP skeletons for enhanced rigidity to prevent deformation, reusable 50-100 times.

4. Wooden Molds: An Economical Choice for Temporary or Simple Shapes

Wooden molds mainly use pine and plywood as materials, suitable for temporary projects or simple shapes. Material characteristics: low cost, easy processing, can be made and adjusted on site; Advantages: cost-effective, suitable for small-batch, simple-shaped components (such as rectangular spacer blocks and simple profiles), with short processing cycles (1-2 days per set); Applications: temporary support components, small decorative pieces, project mock-up production, etc.; Precautions: wooden molds easily absorb water and deform, so waterproofing treatment is required in advance (applying waterproof paint or wrapping with plastic film). When Qinglong wooden molds are used for project mock-up production, dimensional deviation after waterproofing can be controlled within ±2mm; Limitations: low reuse rate (≤10 times), with precision and durability inferior to steel and FRP molds, not suitable for mass or high-precision production.