Protectosil® water repellents protect structures from water ingress
The porous nature of many substrates allows water and dissolved contaminants to penetrate via capillary suction into the pores. This may cause various problems such as corrosion of reinforcing steel, salt burst, or freeze-thaw damage.
There is no doubt that by preventing water ingress into a structure, damage is drastically reduced. To determine the right Protectosil® product for your project see our product selection guide.
But the key question is how?
Treatment with water repellents – called "hydrophobation" - using Protectosil® building protection products is unique. Protectosil® water repellent products penetrate deep into the substrate. They keep water out and maintain the substrate‘s water vapor permeability. By contrast, film-forming coatings may block the pores of the surface. The large molecules in polymeric water repellent coatings seal the pores of the substrate and may stop it from breathing.
Water is kept out, but water vapor generated from within remains trapped, causing damage such as spalling. In addition, the surface coating breaks down due to UV radiation, allowing water to penetrate once again.
Depth of penetration provides optimum protection
Protectosil® water-repellent molecules are small enough to penetrate the smallest pores of most substrates. Coupled with their ability to chemically bond to the substrate provides a long lasting water repellent treatment. External water is kept from entering the pores, while water vapor from within the structure can still escape.
The Protectosil® treated structure remains breathable. This technology has two major advantages: Neither UV radiation nor mechanical wear can erase and thus weaken the Protectosil® protection.