Organosilicon surface modification of construction materials such as stone, concrete glass wood and photovoltaic modules

Technological Overview

A Polish research organisation has developed a group of technologies for the modification of the surface of construction and building materials, based on tailor-made organosilicon compounds. Reactive groups in the molecules form permanent chemical bonds with functional groups present on the surface of the raw material, instead of relying on physical adsorption. As a result, the protective layer is much more resistant to washing out, repeated cleaning, abrasion, UV and temperature changes than conventional impregnates.

The solution is based on a wide range of organosilicon compounds, including silanes, siloxanes, polysiloxanes, cyclosiloxanes and silsesquioxanes, as well as other functionalised organosilicon derivatives. The compounds are synthesised from non-petrochemical raw materials in a highly efficient and scalable process. The type of organosilicon core and of the functional groups determines the surface energy and wettability of the modified material and its compatibility with the modified material. The same chemistry can therefore be tuned to give hydrophobic or hydrophilic surfaces and additional functionalities, depending on the application.

Depending on their structure and functional groups, the organosilicon compounds can give the following durable surface properties to modified construction materials:

•          natural stone, concrete, brick, clinker and paving stones: high hydrophobicity, protection against moisture, freeze–thaw damage, pollution and biological growth, resistance to UV and yellowing, and a stable colour-deepening effect (“wet stone” effect);

•          glass: permanent highly hydrophilic or hydrophilic character giving anti-fog action and reduced ice adhesion (anti-frost);

•          wood: protection against UV and microbiological factors, hydrophobic and oleophobic properties, flame retardancy, and protective coatings for the conservation of historic wood;

•          photovoltaic modules: hydrophobicity and self-cleaning effect.

Advantages and innovations

The proposed technology offers the following advantages and innovative aspects:

• permanent covalent bonding of the active compounds to the construction material, giving much higher resistance to washing out, abrasion, weathering and repeated cleaning than conventional physically adsorbed impregnates;

• multifunctional action depending on the construction material: hydrophobisation, hydrophilisation, oleophobisation, colour deepening, self-cleaning, anti-fog, easy-to-clean, anti-frost, UV, antimicrobial and flame-retardant protection;

• safe and flexible application: non-ionic compounds that do not corrode metals or degrade seals and paints, solvent systems adapted to exterior and interior use, one-component formulations applied by spraying or manually, and possible integration into production lines;

• synthesis from non-petrochemical raw materials;

• highly efficient and scalable synthesis process, with the possibility to produce the active compounds in batches of up to 100 kg;

• suitability for further laboratory and pilot-scale validation and technology transfer towards industrial applications.

Our expertise includes:

• Design and synthesis of organosilicon compounds: tailor-made for specific construction materials and target surface properties, synthesised from non-petrochemical raw materials.

• Scale-up excellence: laboratory-scale synthesis and scale-up of production up to 100 kg per batch.

• Surface modification: chemical modification of stone, concrete, glass, wood and photovoltaic modules; control of surface energy and wettability.

• Functional coatings: development of coatings for hydrophobisation, hydrophilisation, oleophobisation, colour deepening, self-cleaning, anti-fog, easy-to-clean, anti-frost, UV, antimicrobial and flame-retardant protection.

• Basic material characterization: testing and evaluation of the properties of modified materials.

• Validation and technology transfer: support in laboratory- and pilot-scale validation and technology transfer.

• Science dissemination and popularization: organizing conferences, workshops and trade fairs.

Collaboration

We are looking for projects to join as research institution and consortium partner.