SMC (Sheet Molding Compound) is revolutionizing municipal infrastructure construction with its features of light weight, high strength, corrosion resistance, insulation, and environmental friendliness. From underground pipelines to above-ground facilities, from traditional building materials to intelligent systems, it brings a comprehensive transformation that is safe, efficient, and green.
I. Manhole Cover Systems: Dual Improvement in Safety and Convenience
Safety Upgrade: Load-bearing capacity exceeds 400kN (well above the national standard of 240kN), can withstand pressures of up to 100 tons, fall-proof, anti-slip, displacement-proof, becoming the "safety guardian" of cities.
Convenience Revolution: Weighing only 1/4 of cast iron, easily handled by a single person, installation efficiency increased by 60%, no heavy machinery needed, maintenance costs reduced by 70%.
Insulation Assurance: Excellent insulation properties, completely eliminating the risk of electric leakage near power facilities, especially suitable for subway stations, power distribution rooms, and similar locations.
Application Cases: Annual national production capacity reaches 420,000 sets, a year-on-year increase of 14.6%, widely applied in cities like Luzhou and Chengdu, with replacement rates up to 92% in individual projects.
Technical Highlights: 30% glass fiber reinforcement, compressive strength exceeding 40 tons (30% above the national standard), built-in anti-theft lock, IP68 sealing performance, service life increased more than threefold.
Ⅱ. Drainage System: Comprehensive Upgrade in Efficiency and Durability
1. Rainwater Grates: The "Urban Sponge" for Heavy Rain
Drainage Efficiency Boost: The specially designed porous structure (porosity 25-35%) improves drainage efficiency by 40%, with a single grate capable of handling 150mm/h rainfall intensity.
Noise Reduction Innovation: Elastic deformation design keeps vehicle noise under 65dB, improving the urban sound environment.
Expanded Applications: Specialized models for chemical parks can resist strong corrosives like hydrofluoric acid, meeting ASTM G48 standards, with a lifespan increased by 5 times
2. Drainage Ditches / Channels: The "Enhanced Vessels" of Urban Infrastructure
Structural Advantages: U-shaped design enlarges the drainage cross-section, self-cleaning ability improved by 50%, smooth inner walls reduce water flow resistance by 30%.
Material Innovation: Replacing cement with resin and aggregate composite molding, acid-alkali and salt spray resistant, ideal for industrial wastewater and coastal areas, lifespan up to 20 years, maintenance frequency reduced by 80%.
Modular Construction: Individual segments weigh less than 50kg, allowing two people to install, cutting construction time by 50% and overall costs by 35%.
Successful Case: In the municipal renovation project of Huli District, Xiamen, replacing traditional concrete drainage ditches increased drainage efficiency by 40% during heavy rain and resolved long-term leakage issues.
Ⅲ. Noise Barriers: Guardians of Urban Tranquility
Noise Reduction Efficiency: Rail transit sound barriers can reduce noise by 7-10 dB, while highway sound barriers achieve up to 15 dB reduction, significantly improving the quality of life for residents along these routes.
Lightweight Advantage: Weighing only 1/5 of traditional concrete barriers, they reduce foundation load, adapt to various terrains, and increase installation efficiency threefold.
Enhanced Durability: UV-resistant and acid-alkali-resistant, with a service life of up to 50 years (compared to 20 years for traditional metal), lowering life-cycle costs by 40%.
Innovative Applications:
Highway Anti-Glare Screens: Address problems of fragility in traditional glass and corrosion in metal; successfully applied on three national highways, including the G59 Hubei North Expressway.
Ⅳ. Road Engineering: Pioneers of New Pavements
1. SMC Modified Asphalt: A New Paradigm for Green Paving
Energy-Saving Revolution: Mixing temperature reduced to 140-145°C (traditional 180-200°C), fuel consumption decreased by 40%, VOC emissions reduced by 80%, improving working conditions for laborers.
Efficiency Improvement: Construction cycle shortened by 30-50%, particularly suitable for urban road "white-to-black" projects; practices in Huli District, Xiamen show that a 2 cm ultra-thin layer can achieve the effect of a traditional 5 cm pavement.
Performance Enhancement: Bonding strength increased by 50%, rutting resistance improved, and road lifespan doubled; already applied in major projects such as National Highway G109.
2. Specialized Road Facilities:
Anti-Glare Screens: "Jizhi" SMC anti-glare screens successfully tested on Hengde Expressway, solving issues of fragility and corrosion in traditional products; promoted on three national highways.
Composite Piles: Used as ground reinforcement, with construction speed reaching 350 linear meters per day; compared to traditional methods, the construction period is shortened by 40%, suitable for soft soil foundation treatment.
Ⅴ. Utility Tunnels and Smart Facilities: The "Invisible Skeleton" of Smart Cities
Utility Tunnel Components: Cable supports, ventilation systems, and fire partitions are all made entirely of SMC, reducing weight by 60%, doubling insulation performance, and reaching P12 level impermeability. Applied in utility tunnel projects in cities like Suzhou and Shanghai, the maintenance cycle has been extended to 10 years.
Multi-functional Light Poles: Integrating communication base stations, surveillance, lighting, and charging functions. The SMC casing allows complex surface molding, electromagnetic shielding reaches 60dB, and wind resistance improves by 40%. Widely applied in smart city construction in Beijing, Shenzhen, and other cities, achieving a 5-fold increase in functional integration per pole.
Smart Manholes: SMC integrated smart inspection wells with built-in sensors to monitor water levels and gases, enabling remote alerts. After application in Xiong'an New Area, the warning time for pipeline network incidents was advanced by 72 hours, and maintenance personnel were reduced by 60%.
Ⅵ. Future Trends: Comprehensive Evolution Towards 'Green Intelligence'
SMC composite materials have become the 'standard configuration' in modern municipal engineering. It is predicted that by the end of 2025, the SMC application market in the municipal sector will reach 12 billion yuan, with a compound annual growth rate of 18%, fully leading urban infrastructure construction into a new era of light weight, high strength, durability, and intelligence.
