A polydimethylsiloxane coating to minimize weathering effects on granite

The impact of common weathering mechanisms on granite has been elucidated. A sprayable polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) solution and a commercial reference coating formulation (Faceal Oleo HD) have been applied on granite to produce durable surface coatings that minimize weathering effects. Sufficiently thick PDMS coatings display superior stability in all the studied weathering tests when compared to the reference coating, as the impact of weathering on the hydrophobic functionality ofthe PDMS-coated samples is minimal. Furthermore, due to the excellent water and salt blocking behavior of PDMS, the PDMS-coated stones display an overall better stability against weathering compared to untreated stones.