The key function of a water-repellent treatment is to prevent capillary water transport. Mineral building materials such as natural stone, bricks, plaster, and concrete absorb water, which leads to numerous problems. Penetrating water can cause frost damage, transport salts or pollutants, and promote biological growth by algae, lichens, or fungi. Furthermore, moisture significantly impairs the thermal insulation of exterior walls.

Even in ancient times, methods for water repellency were used – the Romans, for example, soaked bricks in oils to keep them dry. Hytecco WR is based on the same principle, but with state-of-the-art technology and innovative materials.

The principle of hydrophobization is to reduce the surface energy of mineral building materials. Water has a high surface tension and is attracted to surfaces with high energy, while it is repelled by those with low energy.

Modern water repellents, such as the silanes used in Hytecco WR, are so-called hybrid molecules with a hydrophobic (water-repellent) and a hydrophilic (water-attracting) part. The hydrophilic side binds to the mineral building material surface, while the molecules cross-link with each other to form a silicone. This creates a durable, water-repellent surface.

Because silanes are liquids with very small molecules, they are absorbed deep into the pore system of the building material and impregnate it to a depth of several millimeters. Although the hydrophobic treatment itself remains invisible, Hytecco WR provides highly effective water repellency, preventing rainwater from penetrating even the finest cracks.