Development and Application of GRC Products at Home and Abroad

The application of GRC products in construction began in the early 1970s. British architectural research institutes and Pilkington Glass Corporation conducted alkali-resistant glass fiber reinforced cement products experiments. Then in 1966, the British invented alkali-resistant glass fiber and put it into practical use. This glass fiber is called “cem-fi”. It contains zirconia, which can slow down and prevent the corrosion of alkali in glass by cement, and then ensure the durability of GRC products. The invention and use of alkali-resistant glass fibers is the starting point for the application of GRC products in large-scale construction.

Subsequently, the production technology of GRC products was slowly introduced into the United States, Japan, the Netherlands, Spain, China, Germany, Italy, Singapore and other over 40 countries around the world. According to statistics, over 600 companies in the world have been engaged in the research and production of GRC materials and GRC products in recent years.

The prototypes of GRC materials and GRC products in China are similar to those of asbestos tiles. In the early days of liberation, in the absence of China's steel and few woods, the types and application plans of reinforced concrete products were expanded, and it is possible to fully replace steel products with reinforced concrete products. And wood. This was followed by the "three generations" policy of replacing cement, glass fiber, fiberglass, and other materials with steel, wood, and cotton yarn.

China's research on GRC materials and products began in the late 1950s. At that time, there were many technical personnel who promoted them, but alkali-resistant glass fibers had not appeared at that time, and alkali-resistant glass fibers could only be used in GRC products. This results in a rapid drop in the strength of the GRC product and no guarantee of safety or durability. Therefore, the country once issued a ban on the application of GRC products. It was not until the mid-1970s that China resumed its research and application of GRC materials and GRC products. On the one hand, the development of alkali-resistant glass fibers, on the other hand, the development of low-alkalinity cement. These two aspects of R&D took effect one after another in the mid-1980s. Then, GRC materials initially entered the field of application in China, and was promoted by the big plan in the 1990s.

Nowadays, China has become a huge market for GRC materials and GRC products. There are nearly 1,000 companies engaged in the research and production of GRC materials and products, covering 31 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions across the country, touching buildings, civil engineering, and agriculture and animal husbandry. Fisheries, environmental arts, and military engineering.

GRC materials and GRC components are characterized by long-lasting environmental protection and quality, while GRC components are rich in shapes and colors. What can GRC do? The most common GRC components include pillars, decorative lines, doors, windows, fences, gardening supplies, urban sculptures, etc. GRC can also be used for curtain walls, imitation sandstones, and cement moldings. The reason why GRC is used in a wide range of applications is because of its strong plasticity. Whatever it does, it is suitable for outdoor or wet locations!