Composition for impregnating building materials to decrease their gas permeability
Abstract
The gas permeability of building materials is a critical factor influencing structural durability, energy efficiency, and indoor air quality. This study presents a preliminary investigation into a method for reducing the permeability of concrete and gypsum using a novel penetrative organosilicon composition. The composition is based on the reaction product of polyethylhydride siloxane (PEHS) and alkyltriethoxysilane (ATES) hydrolysate. Experimental measurements using air and argon as proxy gases demonstrate that the optimized layer-by-layer treatment can significantly increase the gas impermeability coefficient (K0/Kt). Given the correlation between molecular size and permeation, these findings suggest a theoretical potential for blocking hazardous soil gases such as radon (222Rn). This potential was further explored through initial pilot field tests in residential buildings, which yielded promising preliminary results. However, these findings emphasize the need for extensive long-term evaluations and direct radon diffusion studies to fully validate the efficacy and durability of the proposed treatment under diverse environmental conditions.