Effects of Admixtures on GRC Performance and Analysis of Prohibited Admixture Types

In the field of modern architectural decoration, GRC (Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete) has become the ideal choice for high-end projects such as grand theaters, commercial complexes, and landmark buildings, thanks to its advantages of light weight, high strength, and flexible shaping. However, the stability of GRC material performance is closely related to the proper use of admixtures. As an industry leader with 28 years of full-chain experience in UHPC/GRC/GRG/GRP materials, Qinglong Group will analyze from a professional perspective how admixtures improve GRC performance, while clearly identifying the types of prohibited admixtures, providing designers and owners with a scientific basis for material selection.

GRC Admixture Performance Optimization Mechanism: Enhancing Project Value from the Material's Core

The core advantage of GRC materials lies in the synergistic effect between glass fibers and the cement matrix, and admixtures are the key “catalyst” for achieving this synergy. In Qinglong Group's production practice, commonly used admixtures fall mainly into two categories: functional and structural. Functional admixtures such as water reducers can lower the water-cement ratio, raising the compressive strength of GRC products to over 60MPa while improving slurry flowability to ensure the precise molding of complex shapes (such as double-curved curtain walls and openwork reliefs); structural admixtures such as early strength agents can shorten the curing period by 30%, and combined with Qinglong's independently developed steam curing process, enable efficient delivery with an annual capacity of 600,000 square meters. In addition, air-entraining agents can introduce uniform air bubbles, improving the frost resistance of GRC products to D50 or above, making them particularly suitable for outdoor projects in cold northern regions.

Industry Red Lines for Prohibited Admixtures: The Key to Ensuring Long-Term GRC Safety

Although admixtures significantly enhance GRC performance, the use of certain categories can bury serious quality hazards. According to the Technical Standard for Building Application of Glass Fiber Reinforced Cement (GRC) (JGJ/T423-2018) and the summary of Qinglong Group's more than 20 years of engineering practice, the following three types of admixtures are strictly prohibited: First, antifreeze agents containing chlorides—chloride ions cause corrosion of glass fibers, reducing GRC flexural strength by 40% within 5 years; a typical case is a northern project where decorative moldings cracked and fell off due to the use of such admixtures. Second, accelerators with excessive alkali content—excess alkali can trigger alkali-aggregate reactions, causing internal expansion and cracking of products; Qinglong's laboratory data show that GRC specimens with alkali content exceeding 0.6% developed visible surface cracks after 100 freeze-thaw cycles. Third, inferior retarders—their unstable components lead to unbalanced strength development in GRC, affecting the bond with metal embedded parts and threatening installation safety.

Qinglong Group's Admixture Control System: Ensuring Material Quality from the Source

As a National High-Tech Enterprise and a participant in GRC standard formulation, Qinglong Group has established a full-process admixture control mechanism: on the raw material side, strategic partnerships with international brands such as BASF and Sika ensure stable admixture performance; on the production side, automated metering systems keep admixture dosage errors within ±0.1%; on the testing side, SEM scanning electron microscopy analysis at the provincial-level R&D center monitors microstructural changes in the slurry in real time. This system has ensured the outstanding performance of Qinglong GRC products in benchmark projects such as the translucent concrete project at Nanjing East Road Century Plaza and the Dongguan Women and Children's Activity Center, where translucent GRC panels achieved a light transmittance of 85% while meeting the C40 strength grade requirement.

The scientific selection of admixtures is a core link in optimizing GRC material performance, while strictly avoiding prohibited categories is the bottom line for engineering safety. Guided by the mission of “Creating Aesthetic Architecture,” Qinglong Group leverages 28 years of technical accumulation and full-chain service capabilities to provide customers with GRC solutions that combine aesthetic value and structural safety. In the future, with the implementation of new standards such as the General Technical Conditions for Non-Load-Bearing Components of Ultra-High Performance Concrete (UHPC), Qinglong will continue to drive technological innovation in admixtures, leading the industry toward green and high-performance development.