Funcosil impregnation agent

Conservation Technology
Mar 12, 2024
2 min read

Reliable protection for dry brickwork

Water plays a central role in the weathering of mineral building materials. The aim of a hydrophobic impregnation is to significantly reduce capillary water absorption, as occurs, for example, during rainfall or exposure to splash water. It is a sensible, damage-preventing (prophylactic) measure if the capillary absorption of rainwater or splash water has the potential to trigger or accelerate a damage process, or if corresponding damage can already be observed.

In addition, reducing the moisture content can improve the heat insulation of the façade brickwork. Hydrophobic treatment with Funcosil protects your bricks from damage and saves valuable energy. Regardless of the composition of the active ingredient, the effect of a hydrophobic impregnation is based on reducing the adhesive forces between the pore wall and penetrating water molecules. By diminishing the interaction in this way, the capillary suction that normally prevails is transformed into capillary depression. The range of variations and properties of organosilicon-based hydrophobic agents is very broad. The agent used should therefore be chosen according to the requirements of the substrate. In the past, hydrophobic agents were always liquid and thus only of limited suitability for weakly absorbent bricks. Now, Remmers has solved this problem with its Funcosil FC cream technology, which gives all substrates the time to absorb the required quantity of protective substances.

What is the surface wetting angle?

The contact or surface wetting angle describes the angle formed by a liquid on the surface of a solid. If the contact angle is > 90°, then the surface is classed as hydrophobic.

Hydrophilic material (affinity for water) Hydrophobic material (water repelling)

What happens exactly when a surface is made hydrophobic?

A thin glass tube is immersed in a water basin. Due to the capillary forces acting, the water in the glass tube will rise to the top. If the glass tube is now made hydrophobic, the

effect is reversed; water is no longer “sucked in” but rather forced out.

Since this is the result of only a single-molecule, nanoscale layer of Funcosil impregnation on the pore walls, vapour transport is virtually unrestricted. There is no impairment to diffusibility.

Products	Range of use	Properties
Funcosil FC (Facade Cream)	Hydrophobic impregnation in cream form For subsequent cavity insulation and interior insulation	Cream form: lightweight, can be applied with pinpoint accuracy and without losses Early resistance to rain, approx. 60 min
Funcosil SNL	Clear, hydrophobic, solvent-based impregnation	Applied as a liquid Solvent-based
Funcosil SL	Clear, hydrophobic impregnation for limestone	Applied as a liquid Solvent-based
Funcosil BI	Clear, hydrophobising impregnation for concrete	Applied as a liquid Solvent-based
Funcosil OFS	Aqueous, hydrophobising and oil-repelling protective impregnation and easy-care treatment	Applied as a liquid Water-based
Funcosil AG	Oleophobic and hydrophobic protective impregnation	Applied as a liquid Solvent-based Anti-billposting effect
Funcosil IC	Aqueous, solvent-free impregnation cream on a silane base for reinforced concrete in bridges	Applied as a liquid Solvent-based