A number of the façade treatments offered by ACS are based on silicone resin technology. Over the years there has been considerable misunderstanding about the performance and properties of silicone based products. The following technical notes are made available in order to dispel the various myths about silicone resins and their use in protecting buildings.

What are silicone resins?

Silicone resins are high molecular, three-dimensionally cross-linked compounds, based (like quartz) on a silicon/oxygen skeleton. Unlike quartz, however, an organic group R replaces every fourth oxygen atom in a silicone resin. In this way silicone resins can be described as an organically modified quartz structure. It is this modification that provides the silicone resins with their exceptional properties.

When applied to building materials the silicone resins react with water (vapour) with part of the organic group being split off. This forms a three-dimensional, densely cross-linked polysiloxane, which is firmly attached to the substrate by way of the covalent, polar Si-O-Si bonds or backbone.

The fully cured silicone resin is nothing more than quartz, which has been modified with organic groups. The key issue is that the reaction with the substrate results in a pore lining attachment, which does not block or seal the pores or capillaries in the building materials.

The organic groups are outward pointing and these non-polar methyl (CH3-) parts confer excellent water repellency by their umbrella effect.

The reacted silicone resin network structure is extremely stable and fully resistant to many chemical, physical and biological influences. In this way the water repellent properties are maintained for many years provided the product treatment is carried out properly in the first place.

Silicone resin based protection products provide excellent, durable performance. In essence they do not allow water in but allow water vapour out. In some cases they also provide some reinforcement in the substrate, as well as excellent water repellence.

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Contact address;

ACS Limited

Bofors Park, Artillery Road, Yeovil,

Somerset BA22 8YH

Tel: 01935 414012 Fax: 01935 414022

E Mail:info@acslimited.co.uk

See also - www.wood-protection.co.uk