Study on Fade Rate Differences and Influencing Factors of Colored UHPC Facades in Different Climate Zones

As an important material for modern building skins, colored UHPC façades have color stability that directly affects a building's aesthetic lifespan and maintenance costs. Environmental factors in different climate zones—such as light intensity, temperature and humidity fluctuations, and air pollution—cause significant differences in the fading rate of colored UHPC façades. Based on Qinglong Group's 28 years of full-chain experience with UHPC/GRC/GRG/GRP materials, this article provides an in-depth analysis of solutions to the fading problem of colored UHPC façades, from climate-adaptive design and material formulation optimization to engineering case verification.

1. Climate Zone Differences: Key Factors Affecting the Fading Rate of Colored UHPC China spans a vast territory with markedly different climatic conditions, from tropical monsoon to temperate continental climates. In the hot and humid regions of South China, annual UV radiation can reach over 5000 MJ/m², making the organic pigments in colored UHPC façades prone to photo-oxidation, with fading rates 15%-20% higher than in northern regions; in the arid regions of Northwest China, day-night temperature differences can reach 30℃, and thermal expansion and contraction of the material cause surface micro-cracks that accelerate fading caused by rainwater penetration. In addition, salt spray corrosion in coastal areas damages the pigment encapsulation layer, making the fading problem more complex. While participating in drafting the industry standard General Technical Conditions for Non-Load-Bearing Components of Ultra-High Performance Concrete (UHPC), Qinglong Group has established fading rate evaluation models for different climate zones.

2. Material Innovation: Qinglong UHPC's Anti-Fading Technology Breakthroughs As a National High-Tech Enterprise, Qinglong improves the weather resistance of colored UHPC through three technical approaches: First, adopting a composite system of imported inorganic pigments and nano-scale silica, raising the pigment encapsulation rate to 92%, with UV aging resistance showing no obvious color change after 1000 hours under the ASTM G154 standard; Second, developing a “gradient color formulation” in which high-weatherability pigments are applied to the surface layer matched with the substrate color in the inner layer, so even slight surface fading does not affect the overall appearance; Third, introducing lotus-leaf bionic coating technology to reduce surface water absorption to below 0.5%, minimizing fading caused by pollutant adhesion. In the Nanjing East Road Century Plaza renovation project, Qinglong's translucent UHPC components underwent 3 years of outdoor exposure testing with a fading rate of only 3.2%, far below the industry average.

3. Engineering Practice: Full-Chain Services Ensuring Long-Lasting Color Performance Fade control of colored UHPC façades requires whole-process management from design and production to installation. Backed by its Grade II professional contracting qualification for building curtain wall engineering, Qinglong uses BIM technology in the detailed design stage to simulate solar angles in different climate zones and optimize component orientation and thickness; in production, a fully automated material distribution system ensures uniform pigment dispersion, and the constant-temperature curing kilns at its Nanning, Guangxi production base keep color difference within ΔE≤2.0; during construction, 3D laser positioning technology ensures tightly sealed joints and prevents rainwater from penetrating the substrate. In a coastal landmark project, the colored UHPC façade system supplied by Qinglong, combined with a GRP salt-spray-resistant coating, fulfilled a commitment of a fading rate ≤5% over 15 years. To learn more industry information: +WeChat qlfsbl123

4. Industry Trends: Climate Adaptability Becomes a New Criterion for Material Selection As green building evaluation systems place higher demands on durability, the climate adaptability of colored UHPC façades has become a focus for designers and developers. As a Vice Chairman Unit of the China GRC Association, Qinglong is promoting the establishment of a “climate zone - fading rate - maintenance cycle” correlation database to provide precise material selection solutions for projects in different regions. Whether facing the high temperature and humidity challenges of tropical regions or the freeze-thaw cycle tests of cold regions, Qinglong's UHPC/GRC/GRG/GRP materials can balance architectural aesthetics and durability through customized solutions, fulfilling the corporate mission of “Create Beautiful Architecture.”