How to Achieve Textured Effects on UHPC Shaped Surfaces Through Molds: Process Principles, Design Methods, and Application Case Analysis

The mold is the "genetic code" of UHPC sculptural art, and 28 years of industry experience have given Qinglong a profound mastery of the ultimate art of texture replication.

Amid the wave of artistic architectural envelopes, UHPC (Ultra-High Performance Concrete) has become the "skin of choice" for landmark buildings thanks to its outstanding mechanical properties and sculptural potential. As the core carrier of UHPC expressiveness, texture effects rely heavily on the precision control of mold craftsmanship. As an industry leader with 28 years of deep expertise in the UHPC/GRC/GRG/GRP materials field, Qinglong Group has, through full-chain technology integration, upgraded mold craftsmanship from a simple forming tool into a creative medium for architectural aesthetics, providing designers with complete solutions from concept to realization.

### I. The Craft Principles of UHPC Texture Molds: A Precise Dialogue between Material and Structure

The texture replication on UHPC sculptural surfaces is essentially a "reverse transfer of mold texture". Through the coordinated design of material properties and mold structure, Qinglong's technical team achieves full-scale texture control, from micron-level fine lines to three-dimensional reliefs. At the material level, a composite system of specially modified epoxy resin and high-precision silicone rubber ensures that the mold captures the original texture with a precision of 0.05mm; at the structural level, BIM parametric modeling and CNC five-axis machining keep the mold surface error within ±0.3mm/m. This "material-structure-precision" trinity process system allows UHPC surfaces to retain the native texture of concrete while presenting delicate layers comparable to metal engraving.

### II. Systematic Design Methodology for Texture Molds: Full-Process Control from Creative Concept to Mass Production

Qinglong's original "Five-Step Texture Mold Design Method" has become the standard paradigm in the industry for realizing complex forms. First, original texture data is acquired through 3D scanning to build a high-precision digital model containing over 2 million triangular faces; second, texture topology optimization is performed to reduce demolding difficulty while preserving the artistic effect; the third step adopts modular mold design, breaking super-large irregular components down into 3-5 standard modules to raise production efficiency by 40%; the fourth step applies nano-coating treatment to the mold surface to ensure the UHPC slurry flows fully without residual air bubbles; finally, verification through 1:1 physical prototyping forms a closed-loop verification system from digital twin to physical entity. This method successfully achieved texture consistency control of a 1200㎡ double-curved UHPC curtain wall in a cultural center project in Nanjing.

### III. Analysis of Typical Application Cases: Scenario-Based Practice of Texture Mold Technology

In the Dongguan Women and Children's Activity Center project, Qinglong applied UHPC mold technology to replicate the natural weathered texture of traditional sandstone. By adjusting the mold silicone hardness (Shore A 55-65) and concrete flowability parameters, the component surfaces present a unique effect that combines historical gravitas with the precision of modern craftsmanship, and the project won the AALBORG WHITE Cup GRC Construction Engineering Innovation Award. Meanwhile, in the renovation of Century Plaza on Nanjing East Road, the realization of light-transmitting UHPC texture panels broke through conventional understanding—by pre-embedding a light-guiding fiber matrix with 0.1mm precision inside the mold, the concrete surface takes on a dynamic "twinkling starlight" texture effect, and this technology received the Outstanding Contribution Award for UHPC Standard Development.

As a national high-tech enterprise and a participant in industry standard development, Qinglong has always taken "creating beautiful architecture" as its mission, viewing mold craftsmanship as the core engine for unlocking the value of UHPC materials. Its full-chain service capability, from detailed design to after-sales maintenance, enables Qinglong to provide designers with "turnkey" solutions from texture creativity to engineering implementation. In the future, as 3D-printed molds and intelligent temperature control technology are integrated and applied, the texture expression of UHPC sculptural surfaces will enter a new era of "biological-grade replication", and Qinglong, drawing on 28 years of technical accumulation, continues to define the aesthetic boundaries of architectural decoration materials.