Why Dry-Treat?
Dry-Treat products work by affecting the capillary action of the stone and also altering its surface energy at a molecular level. Capillary action is a function of surface energy, and by altering this energy to a level below that of the liquid, entry is prevented. (Note: use the stone and water here to demonstrate how water can be drawn into it).
Once this reaction has taken place it is permanent. (Note: use the treated sand here to demonstrate the change in surface energy).
All Dry-Treat sealers, with the exception of ENHANCE-PLUS, are impregnators, these penetrate below the surface and become repellent. Impregnators keep contaminants out, but do not stop the interior moisture from escaping. These products are considered “breathable,” meaning they allow for vapour transmission. They are either hydrophobic (water-repelling), and/or oliophobic (oil-repelling):
Hydrophobic impregnators are formulated to repel only water and water-based chemicals. Fruit drinks, coffee, tea, and soda, for example, would be repelled by a hydrophobic impregnator. Oliophobic impregnators are designed to repel water and oil-based liquids. Cooking oil, grease, and body oils are examples of substances that would be repelled by an oliophobic impregnator. An important distinction between oleophobic and hydrophobic impregnators is that an oliophobic impregnator is always hydrophobic, but a hydrophobic impregnator may not be oliophobic. Be sure to read sealer product labels carefully to determine if they are hydrophobic, oliophobic, or both.
By using different products you can determine which liquids you will control. For example, DRY-TREAT 40SK will control water based liquids as these products reduce the surface energy below that of water. STAIN-PROOF, NO-MORE-GRIME and PORCELAIN SEALER will control water and oil based liquids, as these products create a lower surface energy than water and oils. Dry-Treat solvent based sealers are designed to penetrate previously impregnated surfaces including other brands of impregnating sealers. They will not penetrate very well into surface coatings and so these must be removed prior to treatment.
While the products that prevent entry of oil based liquids will also prevent ingression of items such as paints (making oil and water repellents also useful anti-graffiti products) you can paint over the top of them with a solvent based paint or coating material. If using a water-based paint the treated surface will need to be coating with a solvent based primer. The solvent will overcome the repellency effect of the surface and “lock” into the pores of the surface.
Once this reaction has taken place it is permanent. (Note: use the treated sand here to demonstrate the change in surface energy).
All Dry-Treat sealers, with the exception of ENHANCE-PLUS, are impregnators, these penetrate below the surface and become repellent. Impregnators keep contaminants out, but do not stop the interior moisture from escaping. These products are considered “breathable,” meaning they allow for vapour transmission. They are either hydrophobic (water-repelling), and/or oliophobic (oil-repelling):
Hydrophobic impregnators are formulated to repel only water and water-based chemicals. Fruit drinks, coffee, tea, and soda, for example, would be repelled by a hydrophobic impregnator. Oliophobic impregnators are designed to repel water and oil-based liquids. Cooking oil, grease, and body oils are examples of substances that would be repelled by an oliophobic impregnator. An important distinction between oleophobic and hydrophobic impregnators is that an oliophobic impregnator is always hydrophobic, but a hydrophobic impregnator may not be oliophobic. Be sure to read sealer product labels carefully to determine if they are hydrophobic, oliophobic, or both.
By using different products you can determine which liquids you will control. For example, DRY-TREAT 40SK will control water based liquids as these products reduce the surface energy below that of water. STAIN-PROOF, NO-MORE-GRIME and PORCELAIN SEALER will control water and oil based liquids, as these products create a lower surface energy than water and oils. Dry-Treat solvent based sealers are designed to penetrate previously impregnated surfaces including other brands of impregnating sealers. They will not penetrate very well into surface coatings and so these must be removed prior to treatment.
While the products that prevent entry of oil based liquids will also prevent ingression of items such as paints (making oil and water repellents also useful anti-graffiti products) you can paint over the top of them with a solvent based paint or coating material. If using a water-based paint the treated surface will need to be coating with a solvent based primer. The solvent will overcome the repellency effect of the surface and “lock” into the pores of the surface.