Chapter 13
Technological Evolution and Product Innovation: From Decorative Material to System Solution
Compiled by Guangdong Fortune Stone New Material Co., Ltd.
Key Points
- Flexible stone is not a “one-trick pony” product, but a “continuously evolving” product. Without iteration, it will be eliminated.
- The core of technological iteration is not “chasing novelty,” but “solving problems.” “Novelty” that cannot solve problems is pseudo-innovation.
- The future of flexible stone lies not in “the material itself,” but in “system capability.” Selling materials alone has no future; system solutions have a future.
- The technological evolution and product innovation of flexible stone can be summarized as “four iterations, five directions, three integrations.”
13.1 The “Four Iterations” of Flexible Stone Technology
13.1.1 From “Nothing” to “Something”—The Birth of a Decorative Material
The first generation of flexible stone was positioned as a “decorative material”—replacing ceramic tiles and coatings, solving “aesthetic” problems.
Characteristics of the first generation of flexible stone:
- Lightweight—light self-weight, reducing structural load; – Flexible—bendable, adapting to irregular parts; – Decorative—rich colors, diverse textures.
Limitations of the first generation of flexible stone:
- Insufficient functionality—products mainly in small tiles of 600 × 240 mm;
- Insufficient system support—limited compatibility with substrate treatment, waterproofing, leveling, and other systems;
- Incomplete standard system—only enterprise standards, no industry standards.
Table 13-1 Characteristics of the First Generation of Flexible Stone (Decorative Material)
| Dimension | Characteristics | Progress | Limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Positioning | Decorative material | Replacing ceramic tiles, coatings | Limited function |
| Performance | Lightweight, flexible, decorative | Aesthetic problems solved | Insufficient waterproofing and fire protection |
| Standard | Enterprise standard | Standard available | No industry standard |
| Application | Mainly interior walls | Decorative scenarios | Few exterior wall applications |
13.1.2 From “Decorative” to “Functional”—The Upgrade to Functional Material
The second generation of flexible stone was positioned as a “functional material”—solving not only “aesthetic” problems but also “functional” problems.
Characteristics of the second generation of flexible stone:
- Large panels—the emergence of 600×1200 mm and 1200×3000 mm large panels allowed flexible stone to enter home decoration, greatly expanding the application range;
- Waterproofing—improved waterproofing performance, solving water seepage problems;
- Fire protection—meeting fire protection requirements;
- Weather resistance—through independently developed emulsion formula technology, weather resistance improved, adapting to different climates.
Progress of the second generation of flexible stone:
- From “exterior walls” to “interior walls”;
- From “decoration” to “function”;
- From “enterprise standards” to “industry standards” (JG/T 311).
Limitations of the second generation of flexible stone:
Insufficient systematicness—limited compatibility with substrate treatment, waterproofing, leveling, and other systems;
Insufficient service—material suppliers only sell materials, not providing system services;
Insufficient customization—limited product series, weak customization capability.
The functional improvement of the second generation of flexible stone is inseparable from the technological innovation of emulsion formulas. The independently developed large-particle-size high-permeability flexible stone emulsion technology carries out core-shell structure design from the perspective of filler particle size and interfacial phase volume fraction, enabling flexible stone to maintain excellent flexibility and breathability under low-temperature forming conditions, solving the industry problems of conventional formulas being prone to brittle cracking at low temperatures and poor breathability. This technology provides a materials science foundation for the second generation of flexible stone’s upgrade from “decorative material” to “functional material”: the improvement in breathability enables flexible stone to adapt to the moisture discharge needs of walls under different climate conditions, and the improvement in flexibility enables flexible stone to adapt to the curved shape needs of more building types.
Table 13-2 Characteristics of the Second Generation of Flexible Stone (Functional Material)
| Dimension | Characteristics | Progress | Limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Positioning | Functional material | Waterproofing, fire protection, weather resistance | Insufficient systematicness |
| Performance | Functional improvement | Interior + exterior walls | Limited system matching |
| Standard | Industry standard JG/T 311 issued | — | System standards missing |
| Application | Mainly exterior walls | Facade retrofit applications | Insufficient service |
13.1.3 From “Function” to “System”—The Integration of System Materials
The third generation of flexible stone was positioned as a “system material”—providing not only materials but also system solutions.
Characteristics of the third generation of flexible stone:
Systematic—matching with substrate treatment, waterproofing, leveling, node sealing, and other systems; customized—customizing colors, textures, and performance according to project needs; service-oriented—providing technical briefings, on-site guidance, and construction training.
Progress of the third generation of flexible stone:
From “materials” to “systems”;
From “products” to “services”;
From “general” to “customized.”
The system of the third generation of flexible stone:
Six major modules—substrate treatment, waterproofing, leveling, flexible stone application, node sealing, and finished product protection;
Four matches—matching with substrate conditions, matching with climate environment, matching with building type, and matching with budget;
Three schemes—direct application scheme, substrate treatment + application scheme, and system reconstruction scheme.
The systematization of the third generation of flexible stone places higher requirements on the interface stability and wide-temperature-range performance of emulsion formulas. The independently developed non-migratory flexible stone emulsion technology uses reactive emulsifiers, bonding emulsifier molecules to polymer particle surfaces through covalent bonds, fundamentally avoiding surface skinning, mold sticking, and water resistance degradation caused by emulsifier migration, significantly improving the interface stability of flexible stone emulsion. This technology provides a materials science foundation for the systematization of the third generation of flexible stone: the improvement in interface stability makes the bonding between flexible stone, bonding agents, and substrates more reliable, reducing hollowing and detachment risks caused by interface weakening. At the same time, the independently developed high-flexibility flexible stone emulsion technology, through the introduction of modified additives, achieves excellent flexibility at -30°C and 100 freeze-thaw cycle performance, providing materials science support for the system application of the third generation of flexible stone in complex climate conditions such as cold regions and coastal areas.
Table 13-3 Characteristics of the Third Generation of Flexible Stone (System Material)
| Dimension | Characteristics | Progress | Limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Positioning | System material | Materials + systems | Insufficient intelligence |
| Performance | System performance | Six major module integration | Insufficient digitalization |
| Standard | System standards JGJ 144, etc. | — | Intelligent standards missing |
| Application | Full scenarios | Facade retrofit + new construction | High customization cost |
13.1.4 From “System” to “Solution”—The Integration of Solutions
The fourth generation of flexible stone was positioned as a “solution”—providing not only materials but also full-process services from material selection to operations and maintenance.
Characteristics of the fourth generation of flexible stone:
Material integration—complete material system; process integration—complete process system; service integration—complete service system; digitalization—intelligent monitoring, intelligent maintenance.
Directions of the fourth generation of flexible stone:
Intelligentization—combining sensors and IoT to achieve intelligent monitoring and intelligent maintenance;
Greening—low-carbon manufacturing, recyclable utilization;
Platformization—building a “material + process + service” platform to achieve one-stop service.
Table 13-4 Characteristics of the Fourth Generation of Flexible Stone (Solution)
| Dimension | Characteristics | Progress | Future Direction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Positioning | Solution | Full-process service | Intelligentization |
| Performance | System performance + intelligence | Intelligent monitoring | Digital twins |
| Standard | System standards + intelligent standards | — | Standard improvement |
| Application | Full scenarios + full life cycle | Full life cycle | Ecosystem construction |
13.2 The “Five Innovation Directions” of Flexible Stone Products
13.2.1 Performance Innovation
Innovation direction: Improve the performance indicators of flexible stone to meet higher requirements.
Innovation points:
- Weather resistance—improve weather resistance performance to adapt to harsher climates; – Fire protection—improve fire protection performance to meet higher fire protection requirements; – Waterproofing—improve waterproofing performance to solve more complex water seepage problems; – Stain resistance—improve stain resistance to reduce cleaning and maintenance.
In performance innovation, the enterprise has formed a systematic independent R&D technology system around emulsion formulas, including large-particle-size high-permeability flexible stone emulsion technology, non-migratory flexible stone emulsion technology, high-flexibility flexible stone emulsion technology, and inorganic silicone resin modified acrylic topcoat technology, respectively supporting performance improvement from dimensions such as breathability and flexibility balance, interface stability, wide-temperature-range performance, and stain resistance.
The independently developed high-flexibility flexible stone emulsion technology, from the perspective of molecular structure regulation, through core-shell structure design and modified additive introduction, achieves excellent flexibility at -30°C, withstanding 100 freeze-thaw cycles without cracking or peeling, and weather resistance of 3500 hours.
The independently developed inorganic silicone resin modified acrylic topcoat technology, through chemical bonding, copolymerizes inorganic silicone resin with acrylate monomers, achieving topcoat stain resistance (whiteness recovery rate) of over 80% and weather resistance of 3500 hours, realizing organic-inorganic composite interface reinforcement.
Table 13-5 Performance Innovation Directions
| Innovation Direction | Target | Technical Path | Technical Support | Application Scenario |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weather resistance | Weather resistance ≥3500h | Emulsion modification, anti-UV agent | High-flexibility emulsion technology | Plateau, coastal |
| Fire protection | A2 | Flame retardant, inorganic filler | Large-particle-size high-permeability emulsion technology | High-rise, public buildings |
| Waterproofing | Water absorption ≤3% | Dense structure, waterproofing agent | Non-migratory emulsion technology | Rainy areas |
| Stain resistance | Whiteness recovery rate ≥80% | Surface treatment, self-cleaning coating | Inorganic silicone resin topcoat technology | Commercial, public buildings |
13.2.2 Appearance Innovation
Innovation direction: Enrich the appearance effects of flexible stone to meet more design needs.
Innovation points:
- Texture innovation—develop more textures to simulate more materials; – Color innovation—develop more colors to meet more styles; – Tactile innovation—develop more tactile qualities to enrich design expression.
Table 13-6 Appearance Innovation Directions
| Innovation Direction | Target | Technical Path | Application Scenario |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texture innovation | Imitation stone, brick, wood, metal | Mold pressing, digital printing | Various buildings |
| Color innovation | Customized colors, gradient colors | Color paste blending, digital printing | Commercial, cultural |
| Tactile innovation | Matte, glossy, textured | Surface treatment | High-end projects |
13.2.3 Function Innovation
Innovation direction: Give flexible stone more functions to meet more needs.
Innovation points:
- Insulation function—develop insulation flexible stone mortar to solve insulation problems; – Antibacterial function—develop antibacterial flexible stone to solve antibacterial problems; – Self-cleaning function—develop self-cleaning flexible stone to reduce cleaning and maintenance; – Purification function—develop negative ion flexible stone to purify air.
In function innovation, the large-particle-size high-permeability flexible stone emulsion technology, through the introduction of antibacterial and flame-retardant functional additives, enables flexible stone to have both antibacterial and flame-retardant properties while maintaining flexibility, suitable for projects with high requirements for safety and environmental adaptability. The inorganic silicone resin modified acrylic topcoat technology gives the flexible stone topcoat layer excellent stain-resistant and self-cleaning performance, reducing cleaning and maintenance frequency.
Table 13-7 Function Innovation Directions
| Innovation Direction | Target | Technical Path | Technical Support | Application Scenario |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Insulation function | Thermal conductivity ≤0.05 W/(m·K) | Insulation filler, microporous structure | — | Northern facade retrofit |
| Antibacterial function | Virus inactivation ≥99.99% | Silver ion introduction | Large-particle-size high-permeability emulsion technology | Hospitals |
| Self-cleaning function | Contact angle ≥90° | Nano coating | Inorganic silicone resin topcoat technology | High-rise buildings |
| Negative ion function | Formaldehyde purification rate ≥80% | Photocatalytic coating | — | Indoor spaces |
13.2.4 Process Innovation
Innovation direction: Improve the production process of flexible stone to enhance product quality and reduce costs.
Innovation points:
- Production process—improve production processes, intelligently transform equipment, and enhance product quality;
- Environmental process—improve environmental processes and reduce environmental pollution;
- Energy-saving process—improve flexible stone forming equipment and reduce energy consumption.
In process innovation, the independently developed “rear return air” drying process has increased the single-line daily production capacity of flexible stone from the industry’s common 400–800 m² to 800–1,000 m², while product qualification rate and performance stability have significantly improved.
The technical principles of this process are:
- Bottom heating—heat is transferred from below, causing moisture to migrate from the interior of the material to the surface; – Top moisture extraction—a moisture extraction system is set at the top of the drying chamber to promptly discharge evaporated water vapor; – Rear return air—a return air system is set at the rear section of the drying chamber to recycle part of the hot air, with energy recovery efficiency increased to 30%–50%. The independently developed non-migratory flexible stone emulsion technology, through reactive emulsifier technology, fundamentally eliminates defects such as surface skinning and mold sticking caused by small molecule migration, increasing production qualification rate from 85%–90% to 95%–98%, forming a synergistic effect with the drying process innovation.
Synergistic effect with the drying process innovation.
Table 13-8 Process Innovation Directions
| Innovation Direction | Target | Technical Path | Benefit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Production process | Capacity increase 30% | Automation, continuousization | Reduce costs |
| Environmental process | VOC zero emission | Closed-loop recycling | Environmental compliance |
| Energy-saving process | Energy consumption reduction 20% | Waste heat recovery, low-temperature forming | Reduce costs |
13.2.5 Application Innovation
Innovation direction: Expand the application fields of flexible stone to meet more scenario needs.
Innovation points:
- Interior wall application—from exterior walls to interior walls; the use of inorganic printing equipment has greatly enriched the patterns and textures of flexible stone;
- Floor application—with the improvement of inorganic topcoat technology, super wear-resistant flexible stone has expanded flexible stone from walls to floors;
- Ceiling application—with innovation in construction technology and design, flexible stone has expanded from walls to ceilings;
- Landscape application—from buildings to landscapes, such as night-glowing flexible stone, which has a very good effect on enhancing the nighttime visual experience of scenic spots.
In application innovation, the independently developed flexible stone cutting device integrates cutting, fixing, pushing, and dust removal, providing equipment assurance for precise construction of flexible stone in irregular and curved parts, expanding the application range of flexible stone in complex shapes. The -30°C flexibility and 100 freeze-thaw cycle performance provided by the high-flexibility flexible stone emulsion technology provide materials science support for application innovation of flexible stone in cold regions and coastal areas.
Table 13-9 Application Innovation Directions
| Innovation Direction | Target | Technical Path | Application Scenario |
|---|---|---|---|
| Interior wall application | Environmental protection, decoration | Low VOC formula | Indoor spaces |
| Floor application | Wear resistance, anti-slip | High wear-resistant formula | Indoor floors |
| Ceiling application | Soft, ultra-thin | Construction technology | Ceilings |
| Landscape application | Weather resistance, decoration | Energy storage luminescence | Landscape walls, sculptures |
13.3 The “Technology Integration” of the Flexible Stone System
13.3.1 The “Three Levels” of System Integration
Level one: material integration. Integrate flexible stone with substrate treatment materials, waterproofing materials, leveling materials, bonding materials, sealing materials, etc., forming a complete material system.
Level two: process integration. Integrate substrate treatment processes, waterproofing processes, leveling processes, application processes, sealing processes, etc., forming a complete process system.
Level three: service integration. Integrate investigation services, design services, material supply, construction services, acceptance services, after-sales services, etc., forming a complete service system.
Table 13-10 The Three Levels of System Integration
| Level | Integration Content | Core Value | Implementation Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Material integration | Substrate + waterproofing + leveling + bonding + sealing | Complete material system | Compatibility verification |
| Process integration | Substrate treatment + waterproofing + leveling + application + sealing | Complete process system | Standardization |
| Service integration | Investigation + design + supply + construction + acceptance + after-sales | Complete service system | Replicability |
13.3.2 The “Three Keys” of System Integration
Key one: matching. The premise of system integration is the “matching” of each link—material matching, process matching, and service matching. If materials do not match, system performance declines; if processes do not match, construction quality declines; if services do not match, customer experience declines.
Key two: standardization. The guarantee of system integration is the “standardization” of each link—material standards, process standards, and service standards. The higher the degree of standardization, the easier system integration, and the stronger the replicability.
Key three: replicability. The goal of system integration is the “replicability” of each link—scheme replicability, process replicability, and service replicability. The stronger the replicability, the faster system promotion, and the more significant the scale effect.
Table 13-11 The Three Keys of System Integration
| Key | Content | Implementation Points | Goal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Matching | Material, process, service matching | R&D verification | Optimal system performance |
| Standardization | Material, process, service standards | Management norms | Stable system quality |
| Replicability | Scheme, process, service replicable | Training and promotion | System scale expansion |
13.4 The “Quality Assurance” of Flexible Stone Products
13.4.1 Raw Material Quality Assurance System
Assurance points:
- Raw material supplier management—select qualified suppliers, evaluate regularly;
- Raw material entry inspection—inspect each batch of raw materials upon entry to ensure quality;
- Raw material traceability management—establish a traceability system for quality problem tracing.
13.4.2 Production Process Quality Assurance System
Assurance points:
- Production process control—produce according to standard processes to ensure stable quality;
- Production process inspection—inspect each process to ensure quality compliance;
- Finished product factory inspection—inspect each batch of finished products to ensure quality standards.
The independently developed non-migratory flexible stone emulsion technology, through reactive emulsifier technology, has increased production qualification rate from 85%–90% to 95%–98%, providing a materials science foundation for production process quality assurance.
13.4.3 After-Sales Service Assurance System
Assurance points:
- Warranty commitment—clarify warranty period and warranty scope; – After-sales response—respond to customer problems in a timely manner; – After-sales visits—regular visits to understand usage.
Table 13-12 Three Quality Assurance Systems of Flexible Stone
| System | Core Content | Key Measure | Goal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raw material quality assurance | Supplier management, entry inspection, traceability | Batch inspection, sample retention | Raw material stability |
| Production process quality assurance | Process control, process inspection, factory inspection | First article verification, batch traceability | Product stability |
| After-sales service assurance | Warranty, response, visits | 48-hour response, regular visits | Customer satisfaction |
13.5 The “Future Outlook” of Flexible Stone Technology
13.5.1 Greening
Trend characteristics: Flexible stone production is more environmentally friendly, energy-saving, and low-carbon.
Trend directions:
- Environmental materials—use environmentally friendly raw materials;
- Energy-saving production—reduce production energy consumption;
- Low-carbon emissions—reduce carbon emissions.
The large-particle-size high-permeability flexible stone emulsion technology, through large-particle-size core-shell structure design, enables flexible stone to maintain excellent flexibility under low-temperature forming conditions, reducing dependence on high-temperature processes; the high-flexibility flexible stone emulsion technology has improved weather resistance to 3500 hours, and the extension of service life directly reduces maintenance frequency and corresponding carbon emissions.
13.5.2 Intelligentization
Trend characteristics: Flexible stone combined with intelligent technology to achieve intelligent monitoring and intelligent maintenance.
Trend directions:
- Intelligent monitoring—combine sensors to monitor wall status; – Intelligent maintenance—combine IoT to achieve intelligent maintenance; – Intelligent management—combine big data to achieve intelligent management.
13.5.3 Systematization
Trend characteristics: Flexible stone moves from “materials” to “solutions”; systematization is an inevitable trend.
Trend directions:
- Material systematization—form a complete material system; – Process systematization—form a complete process system; – Service systematization—form a complete service system.
13.5.4 Customization
Trend characteristics: Flexible stone moves from “standardization” to “customization” to meet personalized needs.
Trend directions:
Appearance customization—customize colors, textures, and tactile qualities;
Performance customization—customize performance indicators;
Scheme customization—customize system solutions.
Table 13-13 Four Future Trends of Flexible Stone Technology
| Trend | Characteristics | Direction | Key Success Factor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greening | Environmental protection, energy saving, low carbon | Environmental materials, energy-saving processes | Investment |
| Intelligentization | Intelligent monitoring, intelligent maintenance | Sensors, IoT | R&D |
| Systematization | Materials + processes + services | System integration | Integration |
| Customization | Appearance, performance, scheme customization | Flexible production, modular services | Service |
13.6 Decision Reference for Facade Retrofit Offices
Key Decision Points of This Chapter
Flexible stone technology has evolved from “decorative material” to “functional material” and “system material,” and is moving toward “solutions.” The core of technological iteration is solving problems, not blindly chasing novelty.
Flexible stone enterprises should upgrade from “single material suppliers” to “system solution providers,” achieving “material + process + service” system delivery through material integration, process integration, and service integration.
The quality assurance of flexible stone is the foundation of facade retrofit project success; priority should be given to verifying whether the three systems of raw materials, production process, and after-sales service are sound.
Compliance Check Items
- Verify whether flexible stone products comply with JG/T 311 Flexible Facing Brick and JC/T 2219 Modified Inorganic Powder Composite Building Facing Sheet standards, and verify type inspection reports.
- Verify key performance indicators in product test reports, including weather resistance, fire rating, water absorption, freeze-thaw cycles, etc., to ensure they meet project design requirements.
- Verify whether the production enterprise has established complete quality records for raw material entry inspection, production process inspection, and finished product factory inspection, and whether product batches are traceable.
- Before construction of facade retrofit projects, sample wall production and pull-off tests should be completed to confirm material matching and construction process standardization before batch application.
Cost Reference Range
- Customization of flexible stone products (color, texture, performance) will increase certain production costs; specific costs are based on enterprise quotations and should be clarified at the scheme stage.
- Technical service fees for system integration (technical briefing, on-site guidance, construction training) should be included in the total project cost to avoid construction quality decline caused by compressing technical services.
- The maturity of the independent R&D technology system and the improvement of production qualification rate help reduce unit production costs, but in the long term, the early investment in technological innovation will be reflected in material prices.
Risk Warnings
- Pseudo-innovation risk: only chasing “new concepts” without solving actual engineering problems may lead to unstable product performance and unsupported construction processes, ultimately affecting project quality.
- System mismatch risk: materials, processes, and services—all three links are indispensable. Buying only materials without services makes it difficult to fully utilize flexible stone system performance.
- Quality system missing risk: the absence of any link among raw materials, production process, and after-sales service may lead to batch quality fluctuations and increased later maintenance costs for facade retrofit projects.
Replicability Judgment
- Flexible stone’s move from “decorative material” to “system solution” has strong replicability, but must be built on the foundation of complete standards and a sound quality assurance system.
- In facade retrofit projects, prioritizing enterprises with “material + process + service” system delivery capability and a sound quality assurance system can significantly improve project replicability.
- For emerging trends such as intelligentization and customization, it is recommended to verify maturity through pilot projects before large-scale promotion, and not to blindly follow trends.
Reflections on Stone, Insights on Fortune
The core of technological iteration is “solving problems,” and system integration is the key to moving from “materials” to “solutions.” The key to grasping trends is not “waiting for trends,” but “making trends.” Those who make trends can lead trends.
References
[1] JG/T 311—2011, Flexible Facing Brick[S]. Beijing: Standards Press of China, 2011.
[2] JC/T 2219—2014, Modified Inorganic Powder Composite Building Facing Sheet[S]. Beijing: China Building Materials Industry Press, 2014.
[3] GB 50210—2018, Standard for Construction Quality Acceptance of Building Decoration[S]. Beijing: China Architecture & Building Press, 2018.
[4] GB 50016—2014, Code for Fire Protection Design of Buildings (2018 Edition)[S]. Beijing: China Planning Press, 2018.
[5] GB/T 50378—2019, Assessment Standard for Green Building[S]. Beijing: China Architecture & Building Press, 2019.