How Large UHPC Panels Achieve Continuous Stone Veining on the Surface — Key Technologies and Process Analysis

In the field of architectural decoration, the texture and aesthetic expression of materials have always been the core pursuit of designers and owners. Large-format UHPC panels, with their ultra-high strength and excellent durability, are becoming the ideal choice for premium building envelopes, and achieving continuous stone-grain effects on their surface is a key indicator of material craftsmanship. As an industry leader with 28 years of deep expertise in UHPC/GRC/GRG/GRP materials, Qinglong Group has perfectly integrated industrial prefabrication with natural textures through full-chain technological innovation, endowing building envelopes with visual tension and artistic value comparable to natural stone.

I. Technical Breakthrough in UHPC Stone-Grain Effects: From Material Formulation to Texture Forming

Achieving continuous stone-grain effects first depends on precise control of the UHPC material system. Qinglong Group's R&D team optimized the cement-based material mix and introduced specially formulated mineral admixtures and nano-scale reinforcing fibers, significantly improving the material's plasticity and surface fineness while ensuring a compressive strength exceeding 150MPa. Compared with traditional GRC materials, the low porosity of the UHPC matrix provides a foundation for fine replication of stone-grain textures. Combined with a proprietary pigment penetration process, more than 20 natural stone-grain color schemes can be achieved, ranging from light gray granite to dark coffee stone.

In the texture-forming stage, Qinglong employs 3D scanning and mold engraving technology to convert the texture data of natural stone into high-precision steel mold textures. By controlling the micro-level undulations on the mold surface (with precision up to 0.1mm), UHPC panels naturally form well-defined stone-grain veins during casting. Notably, to address the challenge of continuous texture matching for large panels (with a single panel area of up to 12m²), the team innovatively developed a "texture-aligned casting method," which uses mold positioning pins working in coordination with a CNC material distribution system to ensure seamless texture connection between adjacent panels, avoiding the "sense of discontinuity" commonly seen in traditional processes.

II. Full-Process Quality Control: Precision Management from Factory Prefabrication to On-Site Installation

As a national high-tech enterprise, Qinglong has established a full-chain quality control system covering detailed design, manufacturing, and construction installation. During the production of stone-grain UHPC panels, automated material distribution machines and high-frequency vibration processes are used to ensure uniform concrete density and prevent surface bubbles from affecting texture presentation; the curing stage uses gradient control combining steam curing and natural curing to reduce texture deformation caused by material shrinkage. Every panel must undergo 3D scanning inspection before leaving the factory, ensuring texture deviation is controlled within ±2mm/m.

For on-site installation, Qinglong leverages its Grade II professional contracting qualification for building curtain walls, innovatively applying BIM technology and 3D laser positioning systems. By importing the texture data of stone-grain panels into BIM models, precise alignment between virtual pre-assembly and actual installation is achieved. For irregular building envelopes, a "modular hoisting + dry-hanging connection" process is adopted, which not only ensures installation efficiency (up to 300m² installed per day) but also prevents wet work from contaminating the stone-grain surface. In the Nanjing East Road Century Plaza renovation project, Qinglong used this technology to combine light-transmitting UHPC panels with stone-grain effects, winning the Silver Award in the first UHPC Construction Engineering Innovation Award (AALBORG WHITE Cup).

III. Industry Applications and Value: A Win-Win from Aesthetic Effect to Engineering Benefit

The application of continuous stone-grain UHPC panels is reshaping the envelope aesthetics of premium buildings. In commercial complex projects, they can simulate the textures of granite, sandstone, and other stones, meeting designers' demands for "lightweight and personalized" solutions—weighing over 60% less than traditional stone curtain walls while reducing curtain wall support structure costs. In the field of municipal landscaping, Qinglong's stone-grain UHPC benches, planters, and other components achieve a balance between "mass production and artistic expression" through the combination of standardized molds and customized textures.

As a vice-chairman unit of the China GRC Association and a participant in establishing UHPC industry standards, Qinglong has always upheld the mission of "creating beautiful architecture," deeply integrating material technology innovation with architectural artistic expression. From domestic landmark projects to overseas markets in Southeast Asia, stone-grain UHPC panels are becoming an important vehicle for expressing architectural personality and quality. In the future, with the development of parametric design and intelligent manufacturing, the surface effects of UHPC materials will achieve more precise artistic expression, injecting more possibilities into building envelopes.