Hydrophobization Reduction of the surface energy of mineral building materials. Water has a comparatively high surface tension, which is attracted by surfaces with high energy (such as concrete, aerated concrete, fiber cement, brick masonry, sand-lime stone, etc.). Since the surface energy is reduced by hydrophobization, thewater is no longer attracted. It is repelling. Hydrophobizations aremostly based on silanes / siloxanes and can penetrate several millimeters into the surface. This means that an impregnation cannot scratch or peel off. However, hydrophobization only lines out the pores and does not fill them. This means that the color of the surface is not or only minimally changed. On the other hand, the protective effect of the hydrophobization creates only a light basic protection. If liquids act on the surface for a longer period of time, staining still occurs. The use of standard impregnators in heavily used areas or for areaswith increased stain protection requirements have to be considered very carefully. untreated building material surface (with absorbing water molecules) hydrophobized building material surface (siloxane molecules firmly bound and their water-repellent molecular parts (here simplified only CH3 groups) facing outwards) 52
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