How to Prevent Rapid Moisture Evaporation in GRC Exterior Walls in Hot Climates: Key Techniques and Practical Strategies

In construction projects in high-temperature regions, moisture management of GRC facade materials is a key factor in ensuring construction quality and durability. Qinglong, an industry leader with 28 years of full-chain experience in UHPC/GRC/GRG/GRP materials, has drawn on hundreds of engineering projects to develop a systematic moisture evaporation control solution, providing professional technical support for designers and building owners.

Moisture Challenges and Industry Pain Points of GRC Materials in High-Temperature Environments

Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete (GRC) is widely used in landmark building facades and landscape components thanks to its lightweight, high-strength and flexible forming properties. However, in high-temperature regions where daily maximum temperatures exceed 35°C and relative humidity falls below 40%, traditional construction methods can easily cause the surface moisture evaporation rate of GRC to exceed the internal moisture migration speed, leading to surface cracking, reduced strength and other problems. A commercial complex project in South China once suffered irregular cracks in its GRC curtain wall panels because no targeted measures had been taken, increasing later repair costs by 30%.

Material Optimization: Controlling Moisture Evaporation Rate at the Source

Through innovation in material formulations, Qinglong has developed a high-temperature GRC dry-mix. While maintaining a flexural strength of ≥18MPa, composite water-retaining admixtures and ultra-fine mineral admixtures are added to extend the initial setting time of the material to more than 4 hours, effectively slowing moisture loss. A customized glass fiber arrangement process is also adopted, improving fiber dispersion uniformity by 20% and reducing internal stress concentration caused by uneven moisture evaporation.

Construction Process Innovation: Four-Dimensional Moisture Control Technology System

For high-temperature construction scenarios, Qinglong has established a four-dimensional control system covering "material-environment-process-curing." Constant temperature and humidity pre-curing workshops are used at the production stage to keep ambient humidity at 65±5%; moisture-retaining sunshades are used during transportation to prevent sudden surface temperature rises caused by direct sunlight; before on-site installation, the substrate is treated with mist spraying to form a moist interface layer; and intelligent curing membranes are innovatively applied, using slow-release moisture technology to maintain continuous moisture for 7 days, saving more than 50% of water compared with traditional water curing.

Full-Chain Quality Control and Engineering Verification

As a contributing editor of the Technical Standard for Building Application of Glass Fiber Reinforced Cement (GRC), Qinglong has incorporated moisture management indicators into whole-process quality control. From thermal stress simulation analysis at the detailed design stage, to real-time monitoring of moisture loss during production, to 28-day strength tracking after construction, a complete quality traceability system has been formed. After adopting this technical solution, the Nanning ASEAN Culture and Art Center project achieved a 100% first-time acceptance rate for its GRC cladding panels, with no cracking or deformation over three high-temperature seasons.

Moisture management of GRC facades in high-temperature regions requires deep integration of materials science and engineering technology. With the technical strength of its national-level R&D center, Qinglong has transformed 28 years of engineering experience into standardized solutions, solving construction challenges while providing reliable support for realizing artistic architectural forms. In the future, with the innovative application of UHPC/GRC composite systems, decorative building material technology for high-temperature environments will embrace even broader development prospects.