Hydrophobisation effectiveness of building ceramics, polymeric inorganic ultrasound integrated with the addition of fillers

The article describes the studies of efficacy of ceramic brick surface hydrophobisation by preparations based on silicones (micropolymer). The different series of specimens were subjected to a process of surface hydrophobisation by immersion for 15 s using the hydrophobizing formulations, whose structure was further sonificated by power of 400 W. In order to determine the average absorption of polymer by specimens in respective series, before the hydrophobisation samples were dried to a constant weight and weighed. Then, after 14 days of their immersion in the formulation, specimens were weighed again in order to determine the percent change in the sample weight to the weight of the dried sample. The impact of ultrasonic energy on the viscosity of the polymer (measured by Ostwald viscometer) and on the surface tension (measured by stalagmometer) was determined. The hydrophobic properties of the resulting nanofilm created on the surface of the ceramic brick were determined on the basis of the measurement of surface free energy γs (SFE) by using Owens – Wendt method measuring the sample surface contact angles with distilled water (highly polar liquid) and diiodomethane (a polar liquid) to determine the dispersive γs^d and polar γs^p components (expressed in mJ/m²). Based on the results, the effect of sonification on some adhesive and physico. – mechanical properties of the tested material surface was determined.