Analysis of Common Mold Materials for UHPC Components and Their Respective Advantages

In the field of architectural decoration, molds are a key factor determining the forming quality and production efficiency of UHPC components. As an industry leader with 28 years of deep expertise in UHPC/GRC/GRG/GRP materials, Qinglong Group draws on its full-chain technical experience to provide an in-depth analysis of the characteristics and application advantages of today's mainstream mold materials, offering a professional selection reference for designers and project owners.

1. Steel Molds: The Mainstream Choice for Industrialized Production of UHPC Components

With their high strength and high durability, steel molds are the first choice for mass production of UHPC components. In the renovation project of Century Plaza on Nanjing East Road, Qinglong Group used custom steel molds to produce translucent UHPC facade panels, achieving dimensional precision control at the 0.2mm level. Their advantages include: reusability of more than 300 cycles, making them suitable for standardized component production; high surface finish that directly presents the texture of UHPC; and, combined with BIM technology, precise replication of complex shapes—especially suitable for batch component processing for commercial complexes and landmark buildings.

2. GRP Molds: A Powerful Tool for Shaping Irregular UHPC Components

Fiberglass-reinforced plastic (GRP) molds, with their excellent plasticity, are an ideal choice for curved, openwork, and other irregularly shaped UHPC components. In the Dongguan Women and Children's Activity Center project, Qinglong used GRP molds to successfully create double-curved UHPC sunshades with a minimum radius of curvature of 300mm. This material weighs only 1/5 of a steel mold, making on-site installation and adjustment easier; mold development time is 40% shorter than traditional wooden molds; and the surface can be specially treated to achieve various decorative effects such as stone-look and metal-look finishes, making it particularly well suited to the artistic demands of cultural buildings such as museums and art galleries.

3. Wooden Molds: An Economical Solution for Low-Cost Temporary Components

High-density film-faced wooden molds still hold practical value for small-batch, customized UHPC components. In a landscape project, Qinglong used Finnish imported birch plywood molds combined with a water-based release agent, achieving a surface roughness of Ra 3.2μm in a single use. Their advantages lie in a material cost of only 1/8 that of steel molds and short processing cycles, making them suitable for the rapid production of non-standardized components such as irregular landscape features and European-style moldings; however, attention must be paid to controlling moisture content (≤12%) to prevent deformation from affecting precision.

4. Aluminum Alloy Molds: An Innovative Choice for Lightweight, High-Precision Production

With their lightweight design (60% lighter than steel molds) and excellent heat dissipation, 6061-T6 aluminum alloy molds are gaining ground in the production of large-span UHPC components. The General Technical Conditions for Non-Load-Bearing Ultra-High Performance Concrete Components, whose development Qinglong participated in, specifically sets application standards for aluminum alloy molds. Their modular design enables rapid assembly, and combined with vacuum adsorption technology, they effectively solve the air bubble problem during UHPC pouring, demonstrating unique advantages in large-scale projects such as airports and stadiums.

As a National High-Tech Enterprise, Qinglong Group has always upheld the mission of "Creating Beautiful Architecture." Through 28 years of technological accumulation, it has established a full-process quality system covering material R&D, mold design, and production control. Whether it is the industrialized efficiency of steel molds, the design freedom of GRP molds, or the cost advantage of wooden molds, the core of mold material selection lies in matching project needs—Qinglong can provide customers with one-stop solutions from detailed design to after-sales maintenance, allowing the mechanical performance and aesthetic value of UHPC materials to be perfectly presented in every project.