Building Protection
Liquid – Silicones
The Capitol Building in Washington, the statue of Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro, and the moai figures on Easter Island – these three internationally acclaimed landmarks could not be more different, yet they have one thing in common: they are protected against damp and corrosive salts by building-protection silicones from WACKER. Thanks to the hydrophobic effect of these silicones, water simply rolls off the surface, while water vapor can pass unhindered. Consequently, moisture can escape from the inside and the building material remains permanently dry.
Water-Repellent Network
The protective effect hinges on specialty silicones and silanes, which react with the substrate, forming a water-repellent network that keeps out moisture like an invisible umbrella. WACKER was the first silicone producer to recognize this phenomenon and to focus on the development of high-quality building-protection agents.
“WACKER is the technology leader when it comes to building protection. Our products enjoy benchmark status across the industry.”
Dr. Rudolf Hager
Head of Construction Chemicals
We are now the market and technology leader in this segment. Our market share in Europe and South America is over 50 percent, while our additives and binders enjoy benchmark status across the industry. They protect not only architectural monuments across the globe, but also concrete bridges and road tunnels, such as the Gotthard Tunnel in the Swiss Alps, which is exposed to aggressive road salt.
Silicones and silanes protect facades against damp and driving rain.
The statue of Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro was treated with a WACKER product.
Silicones can be used to protect reinforced concrete bridges against aggressive salts.
Innovations are essential in securing future business, which is why WACKER’s technical service engineers all over the world are constantly working on new products and solutions. The latest highlight is an anti-graffiti coating, developed in Burghausen, which finally makes expensive cleaning and repair work a thing of the past. The silicone protects the facade so well that graffiti and stubborn stickers can be easily removed with water only.