Beads for Beauty:
SILRES^® WH

Wood is a versatile material with many advantages. However, wood is very sensitive to weathering if used outdoors. Water is a particular problem. By absorbing and emitting moisture, the wood first swells and then shrinks again, leading to severe surface damage. Water additionally promotes rotting.
Conventional wood preservatives, such as water-repellent impregnations and paints unfortunately wear off over time. WACKER has successfully used products of the SILRES^® BS series for building protection over decades - though on mineral surfaces.

For use on wood, a new product had to be developed: SILRES^® WH: The water-thinnable, solvent-free emulsion is based on a functional silicone resin. After application, it develops a silicone-resin network that is particularly stable due to its high bond energy, but at the same time flexible enough for the coating to conform to the continuous movement of the wood without peeling off. SILRES^® WH produces a strong water-repellent effect without restricting the water-vapor permeability. The wood is effectively protected and can still breath.

SILRES^® WH is used in dilute form as water-repellent impregnation or as an additive for formulating film-forming wood glazes. In the latter case, even a low concentration of the emulsion (1 - 3 %) ensures that wood glazes repel water for significantly longer than usual.