Research on Anti-Rust Treatment Methods and Quality Control Measures for GRC Curtain Wall Connections to Steel Structures

In modern building curtain wall projects, GRC curtain walls are increasingly used in combination with steel structures thanks to their advantages of light weight, high strength and flexible styling. However, the quality of anti-rust treatment at the connection points between the two directly affects structural safety as well as aesthetic durability. As an industry-leading enterprise with 28 years of full-chain experience in UHPC/GRC/GRG/GRP materials, Qinglong Group has developed a systematic anti-rust treatment solution based on the practice of hundreds of landmark projects, providing professional technical support for designers and owners.

Corrosion Risks and Industry Pain Points of GRC Curtain Wall-Steel Structure Connections

The connection joints between GRC curtain walls and steel structures are exposed to complex outdoor environments, facing long-term multiple tests from rain erosion, temperature changes and air pollutants. Traditional anti-rust processes commonly suffer from problems such as insufficient coating adhesion, missed treatment at edges and corners, and difficult later maintenance, causing some projects to develop corrosion and leakage within 5-8 years, which not only affects the building's appearance but also creates hidden dangers to structural safety. In one commercial complex project, anti-rust failure at the connection points caused steel structure corrosion to reach a depth of 0.3mm, with repair costs exceeding 30% of the initial construction investment.

Building a Full-Process Anti-Rust Treatment Technology System

Qinglong Group innovatively adopts a trinity treatment solution of "pretreatment - coating protection - structural optimization." In the detailed design stage, BIM technology is used to simulate joint stress and erosion paths, with priority given to a composite protection system of hot-dip galvanizing + zinc-rich primer, where zinc layer thickness is strictly controlled above 85μm and adhesion meets the 5MPa standard. For areas where GRC components come into contact with steel structures, insulating gaskets and drainage channels are innovatively incorporated to avoid galvanic corrosion between dissimilar metals. In the production stage, automated sandblasting rust removal is applied, achieving surface roughness of Sa2.5 grade, ensuring that coating bonding strength complies with the highest standard of the "Specification for Surface Treatment of Steel before Coating."

Key Quality Control Points and Testing Standards

A full-cycle quality control mechanism has been established from material entry to completion acceptance: for raw materials, hot-dip galvanized steel conforming to the GB/T 13912 standard is strictly selected, with a third-party testing pass rate of 100%; during construction, wet film thickness gauges are used to monitor coating thickness in real time, with one testing point set for every 200㎡; at the completion acceptance stage, salt spray testing (NSS 1000 hours) and electrochemical impedance testing are introduced to ensure the anti-rust system achieves a protection life of more than 20 years. After a cultural center project in Nanjing applied this system, a 5-year natural exposure test showed that the corroded area at connection points was controlled within 0.2%, far better than the industry average.

Qinglong Full-Chain Service Support System

As a national high-tech enterprise, Qinglong Group integrates anti-rust treatment technology into the full life-cycle service of GRC curtain walls. From providing dedicated joint anti-rust solutions in the detailed design stage, to implementing a traceability quality tracking system in production, to 3D scanning positioning installation at the installation site, a closed-loop management is formed. Supported by the annual capacity of 600,000㎡ at its production base in Nanning, Guangxi, customized anti-rust treatment processes can be applied at scale. In recent years, Qinglong has participated in formulating a number of industry standards such as the "Technical Standard for Building Applications of Glass Fibre Reinforced Cement (GRC)," converting anti-rust treatment experience into industry standards and helping improve the overall quality of GRC curtain wall projects.

Today, as building curtain wall technology continues to innovate, anti-rust treatment of GRC-steel structure connections has been upgraded from a mere process step to a systematic project. Based on 28 years of professional experience, Qinglong Group provides reliable anti-rust solutions for high-end building projects through technological innovation and quality control, embodying the corporate mission of "creating beautiful architecture." Choosing a GRC manufacturer with full-chain service capabilities is the key to ensuring the long-term safety and aesthetics of curtain wall projects.