What are aqueous methyl siliconates used for, and how do they function?
Silicone-based masonry water repellents are used to impregnate porous, mineral building materials. The effectiveness of siliconates (suppliers include Bayer, Goldschmidt, Union Carbide and Wacker is essentially due to two special characteristic properties. Firstly. they form stable siloxane linkages with hydrophilic, strongly by hidroxylated mineral surfaces, secondly the hydrophobic character of the aliphatic groups becomes evident.
Building materials which have been thus impregnated become water repellent and their ability to absorb water is greatly reduced. The capillary effect, whereby moisture rises from the ground, is neutralised. The important point for any building that is lived in is that drying is not affected in other words, water vapour must be able to circulate freely and this is assured by using silicone impregnating agents.
Furthermore, the original colour of the building material remains unchanged.
Use of Methyl Siliconates
Blog, Updated at: 10:34 PM
