Waterproofing:
One of the objectives of waterproofing is to maintain and preserve aesthetics, which is affected by:
Paint peel-off Paint blisters Fungus Mold, Mildew Efflorescence
Another serious issue that waterproofing addresses is preventing the loss of structural strength of concrete building materials, particularly due to ASR (alkali silica reaction), acid rain, and sulphate attack. It also prevents chloride penetration which can result in corrosion of the reinforced steel bars.
The essential requirements Waterproofing materials should address are:
• Resistance it can impart to water absorption
• Preventing of water soluble salts, particularly chloride salts
• Penetration of waterproofing treatment to a measurable depth
• Non-staining of treated surface areas
• Long-term stability in an alkaline environment
• Low environmental and health risk
• UV stability (20+ years)
There are 2 classes of waterproofing products:
1. Film Formers
2. Penetrants
Film formers have a particle size greater than 100 nm, which will not allow them to penetrate inside the pores of the building materials but instead form a film covering and protecting the surface from water absorption. Generally, these polymer films are hydrophobic but they need to be continuous and defect-free and also must be UV resistant. It is found that during application, ensuring a continuous film on rough surfaces is difficult to achieve which leads to weak points in film former. All the typical polymer films tend to break down under UV exposure leading to cracking of the films in 2 to 5 years, which leads to failure in terms of losing the hydrophobicity and water repellency features of the film.
There are two types of penetrants: (i) non reactive and (ii) reactive. Non-reactive penetrants are oils and other low viscosity hydrophobic materials, which coat the pores of the substrates, and provide water repellency. However, these types of materials are also biodegradable and loose hydrophobicity within a year. Additionally, these products also provide food for mold or fungus growth on the substrate surfaces and into the pores.
The reactive penetrants chemically react with the substrate and provide molecular level hydrophobicity to the treated surface and also 3 to 5 mm deep into the substrate. Therefore, these types of Waterproofing products provide protection for a very long period. Additionally, the product is bound chemically on a molecular level to the substrate. As a result weathering (UV exposure) and natural abrasion have virtually no effect and hence a very limited effect on the ultimate waterproofing characteristics.
Recently a waterproofing product that is known as Zycosil has been developed, which provides all three of the most desired properties. It is based on nano technology; it provides molecular level hydrophobicity to inorganic substrate and is eco-friendly because it is applied in water solution and the VOC per applied square meter is less than 20% of solvent based silanes. The product is based on organosilane chemistry; hence it reacts with the inorganic substrate surface and provides a long service life of 20 to 30 years.
Eco-Friendly Water Based Nano Technology – Zycosil:
Zycosil is an organosilane product, which forms a particle size of 4-6 ηm in water and penetrates deep into the building material pores (3-5 mm depth). The product becomes part of the building material and makes it highly water repellent.
The product has shown 4 major attributes:
• It has a long expected life of 20 to 30 years, confirmed by weathering test data Conducted with ASTM test methods.
• It is diluted 1:10 or more with tap water, and emits an extremely small amount of Organic solvent into the atmosphere, making it eco-friendly.
• The product can be applied by brush, spray or roller techniques, making it user Friendly.
• The product provides water repellency at a material cost lower than existing Technology and products, which can give a similar initial performance.
• The product is non flammable

Waterproofing:
One of the objectives of waterproofing is to maintain and preserve aesthetics, which is affected by:
Paint peel-off Paint blisters Fungus Mold, Mildew Efflorescence
Another serious issue that waterproofing addresses is preventing the loss of structural strength of concrete building materials, particularly due to ASR (alkali silica reaction), acid rain, and sulphate attack. It also prevents chloride penetration which can result in corrosion of the reinforced steel bars.
The essential requirements Waterproofing materials should address are:
• Resistance it can impart to water absorption
• Preventing of water soluble salts, particularly chloride salts
• Penetration of waterproofing treatment to a measurable depth
• Non-staining of treated surface areas
• Long-term stability in an alkaline environment
• Low environmental and health risk
• UV stability (20+ years)
There are 2 classes of waterproofing products:
1. Film Formers
2. Penetrants
Film formers have a particle size greater than 100 nm, which will not allow them to penetrate inside the pores of the building materials but instead form a film covering and protecting the surface from water absorption. Generally, these polymer films are hydrophobic but they need to be continuous and defect-free and also must be UV resistant. It is found that during application, ensuring a continuous film on rough surfaces is difficult to achieve which leads to weak points in film former. All the typical polymer films tend to break down under UV exposure leading to cracking of the films in 2 to 5 years, which leads to failure in terms of losing the hydrophobicity and water repellency features of the film.
There are two types of penetrants: (i) non reactive and (ii) reactive. Non-reactive penetrants are oils and other low viscosity hydrophobic materials, which coat the pores of the substrates, and provide water repellency. However, these types of materials are also biodegradable and loose hydrophobicity within a year. Additionally, these products also provide food for mold or fungus growth on the substrate surfaces and into the pores.
The reactive penetrants chemically react with the substrate and provide molecular level hydrophobicity to the treated surface and also 3 to 5 mm deep into the substrate. Therefore, these types of Waterproofing products provide protection for a very long period. Additionally, the product is bound chemically on a molecular level to the substrate. As a result weathering (UV exposure) and natural abrasion have virtually no effect and hence a very limited effect on the ultimate waterproofing characteristics.
Recently a waterproofing product that is known as Zycosil has been developed, which provides all three of the most desired properties. It is based on nano technology; it provides molecular level hydrophobicity to inorganic substrate and is eco-friendly because it is applied in water solution and the VOC per applied square meter is less than 20% of solvent based silanes. The product is based on organosilane chemistry; hence it reacts with the inorganic substrate surface and provides a long service life of 20 to 30 years.
Eco-Friendly Water Based Nano Technology – Zycosil:
Zycosil is an organosilane product, which forms a particle size of 4-6 ηm in water and penetrates deep into the building material pores (3-5 mm depth). The product becomes part of the building material and makes it highly water repellent.
The product has shown 4 major attributes:
• It has a long expected life of 20 to 30 years, confirmed by weathering test data Conducted with ASTM test methods.
• It is diluted 1:10 or more with tap water, and emits an extremely small amount of Organic solvent into the atmosphere, making it eco-friendly.
• The product can be applied by brush, spray or roller techniques, making it user Friendly.
• The product provides water repellency at a material cost lower than existing Technology and products, which can give a similar initial performance.
• The product is non flammable