How Do Large-Format UHPC Panels Achieve a Continuous Stone Grain Effect on Their Surfaces? Texture Transfer Printing and Qinglong Group's Surface Treatment Technology

Achieving continuous stone-texture effects on the surface of large UHPC panels relies on an integrated "digital acquisition - mold transfer - coloring reinforcement" technology system, whose core lies in solving three major challenges: texture splicing, color difference control, and texture continuity. In the 2,000 m² stone-texture curtain wall project at Shanghai Century Plaza, Qinglong Group captured natural stone textures through high-precision 3D scanning (point spacing ≤0.1mm), applied silicone mold transfer technology (replication rate ≥95%), and combined them with through-body coloring using mineral pigments (color difference ΔE≤2.0), successfully achieving seamless stone texture splicing on 6m-long panels. Our surface treatment system consists of four processes: substrate pretreatment, texture forming, color rendering, and protective reinforcement, enabling UHPC panels not only to imitate the appearance of stone but also to reproduce its texture and spirit.

Digital technology is the foundation of texture continuity. Qinglong Group uses photogrammetry to obtain high-definition stone images (resolution ≥300dpi) and generates seamless texture maps through algorithmic processing. For extra-large panel formats, we have developed a texture splicing algorithm to ensure natural transitions between panels. In the Wuhan Han Show Theatre project, BIM model pre-assembly was used to optimize joint positions in advance, hiding seams at natural breaks in the texture, achieving visual continuity of over 98%.

The mold transfer process determines texture fidelity. We use food-grade silicone rubber to make transfer molds (hardness Shore A 20-30), whose flexibility ensures complete replication of complex textures. Transfer pressure is controlled at 0.2-0.4MPa for 3-5 minutes. Qinglong Group's proprietary secondary transfer technology increases texture depth by 30%, overcoming the "flattening" defect of conventional processes.

Coloring and protection ensure the durability of the effect. Through-body coloring with inorganic mineral pigments avoids fading differences in surface coatings. A fluorocarbon protective layer (thickness ≥25μm) provides weather resistance. In Hainan's high-temperature, high-humidity environment, our stone-texture UHPC panels showed no obvious fading after 5 years of use, with textures remaining as clear as new. Surface treatment technology enables UHPC to achieve artistic effects so realistic they pass for the real thing.