The aim of the research project is to develop quasi-liquid coating systems for the generation of oil and water-repellent surfaces on porous facade materials. Such quasi-liquid coating systems are based on specially developed trifunctional polymers which consist of a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) group, a solvophilic group and an anchor group with an affinity for substrates and which form association colloids in aqueous coating solutions.

After application, the inversion of polarity at the interface and the formation of binding interactions between solvophilic groups of adjacent trifunctional polymers during the drying process leads to the opening of the association colloids and the formation of a monolayer of aligned PDMS chains on the surface of the facade material (quasi-liquid coating system).

Covalent bonds between anchor groups of the trifunctional polymers and the facade material lead to high stability of the coating system. Impacting soilings slide off highly mobile, aligned PDMS chains of the quasi-liquid coating system, which significantly slows down the soiling of such coated facade materials.

A simple, fast, material-friendly cleaning is ensured by adjusting the wettability of the coating system with water (optimization of the length of aligned PDMS chains).

The project results provide cleaning service providers with a quasi-liquid coating system that enables the long-term preservation of the optical appearance of such coated porous facade materials and their efficient cleaning at a price accepted by the customer (building owner or operator).