The SiOO X Story – Protecting the Planet - Book - Page 41
Chapter 7
The SiOO:X Solution
THE SIOO WOOD Protection System is an impregnation wood
modification that works in the surface layers of wood. According
to patent WO 2007/11156 A2 it has two principal components:
potassium silicate (which penetrates the wood) and an alkoxy
silane (which seals the wood surface). Over time, the potassium silicate in the wood protector undergoes a curing process
by reaction with atmospheric carbon dioxide, resulting in precipitated silica and the formation of inert potassium carbonate
which slowly diffuses to the wood surface. The silica particles are
deposited on the surface of and inside the wood fibres. These
particles are not soluble in water, they are chemically-inert and
they scatter light, which gives SiOO:X-treated wood it’s characteristic even silvery-grey driftwood appearance. For those who
want an instant effect, there are pigmented products available.
The beauty of the SiOO:X system is that it is not toxic, it is totally
water-based and hence VOC-free and it can be disposed at the
end of its useful life with no-concern about negative environmental impacts.
It is important to note that for SiOO:X to work at its best it must
be applied according to the instructions. Ensuring good penetration of the wood by the wood protector is important, as is
allowing sufficient time for the surface protector to cure. Application under controlled factory conditions is always to be
preferred for optimum performance.
After the wood has been treated with the wood protector, an application is then made of a silane emulsion (the surface protector).
This is a very important part of the technology and explains why
the performance is so good. In order to understand why this is so,
it is necessary to introduce some basic principles of silane chemistry. The patented silane molecule of SiOO:X contains a hydrophobic (water-hating) component, plus a component that reacts
to form glass. The trick is to balance these two properties so that
the surface protector makes a flexible, but glassy envelope that
penetrates the wood. The silicon-oxygen bonds in this envelope
do not degrade when exposed to ultraviolet light, unlike conventional hydrocarbon-based coating technologies. The envelope
repels water, but allows for the wood to breathe, so that the wood
protector can cure. The surface protector prevents leaching of
the wood protector, until it is fully cured and becomes insoluble.
How does the surface protector manage to do this? Well, this is
the secret of SiOO:X and it was not developed overnight!
Scottish Larch clad hunting lodge in Scotland, Line Architecture,
Photo: Ross Campbell.
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