Key Technical Points and Implementation Strategies for Steam Curing of GRC Components in Low-Temperature Environments

Key Technical Points and Implementation Strategies for Steam Curing of GRC Components in Low-Temperature Environments: Qinglong's Temperature Control Solution Based on 28 Years of Industry Experience

In the field of architectural decoration materials, GRC (glass fiber reinforced concrete), with its lightweight, high-strength, and flexible shaping characteristics, has become the preferred material for high-end projects such as grand theaters, commercial complexes, and landmark buildings. However, when the ambient temperature falls below 5℃, the curing quality of GRC components has a direct bearing on structural strength and durability. As a national high-tech enterprise with 28 years of full-chain experience in UHPC/GRC/GRG/GRP materials, Qinglong Group has developed a systematic steam curing solution for low-temperature environments through integrated practice in detailed design, manufacturing, and construction installation, providing a replicable technical paradigm for the industry.

I. Core Challenges of Low-Temperature Environments for GRC Component Curing

The hydration reaction of GRC components requires suitable temperature and humidity conditions. When the ambient temperature falls below 10℃, the cement hydration rate decreases significantly, easily leading to problems such as slow strength gain and surface cracking. In construction during northern winters or in high-altitude regions, traditional natural curing often faces three major pain points: first, the curing period is extended by more than 30%, affecting project delivery schedules; second, insufficient density of the component's internal structure reduces frost resistance and durability; third, surface quality defects such as sand dusting and honeycombing appear. Practice at Qinglong Group's Nanning production base shows that precise steam curing control can increase the 28-day compressive strength of GRC components in low-temperature environments by 20% while shortening the curing period to within 7 days.

II. Four Key Control Points of Steam Curing Technology

In line with the requirements of the Technical Standard for Building Application of Glass Fiber Reinforced Cement (GRC) (JGJ/T 423-2018), Qinglong Group established a three-stage temperature control system of “preheating – constant temperature – cooling.” In the preheating stage, a stepped heating method is adopted, raising the component temperature to 40-50℃ at a rate of no more than 15℃ per hour to avoid cracking caused by excessive temperature differences between the interior and exterior; the constant temperature stage maintains relative humidity above 90% and temperature at 50±5℃ for 6-8 hours to ensure full cement hydration; the cooling stage keeps the rate at no more than 10℃ per hour until the temperature difference between the component and the environment is ≤20℃. This process was successfully applied in the Century Plaza renovation project on Nanjing East Road, allowing translucent GRC components to maintain a zero-cracking record during winter construction.

III. Qinglong's Technical Assurance System for Full-Chain Service

As a professional manufacturer integrating detailed design, manufacturing, and construction installation, Qinglong Group ensures low-temperature curing performance from three dimensions: on the design side, BIM technology optimizes component shapes and reduces curing blind spots in complex structures; on the production side, intelligent steam curing kilns monitor temperature and humidity curves in real time and adjust automatically; on the construction side, mobile curing shelters enable precise temperature control of site-cast components. Taking a municipal project in Guangxi as an example, Qinglong's team adopted a customized curing plan that enabled GRC decorative lines to meet design strength requirements even at -3℃, saving 12 days of construction time compared with traditional processes.

IV. Industry Collaboration and Standardization Practices

The promotion of low-temperature curing technology requires collaborative innovation across the entire industry. As a Vice Chairman Unit of the China GRC Association, Qinglong participated in drafting industry standards such as the General Technical Conditions for Non-Load-Bearing Components of Ultra-High Performance Concrete (UHPC), promoting the standardization of curing processes. Meanwhile, through joint R&D centers built with universities, it developed new thermal insulation curing materials that reduce steam heat loss by more than 30%. In overseas projects, Qinglong Malaysia Building Materials Co., Ltd. successfully applied this technology to a landmark building in Malaysia, solving curing challenges in the low-temperature, high-humidity environment of the tropical rainy season.

From material performance optimization to engineering practice, Qinglong Group, guided by its values of “Honesty, Striving, Trust, and Collaboration,” has transformed 28 years of industry experience into practical technical solutions. In the field of GRC component curing in low-temperature environments, steam curing is not only a technical means but also a commitment to building quality. Going forward, Qinglong will continue to focus on the innovative development of UHPC/GRC/GRG/GRP materials, providing expert-level solutions for designers and owners with its full-chain service capabilities, and promoting the application of new architectural decoration materials in broader scenarios.