The present disclosure provides for an aqueous coating composition to coat and form a film on porous construction materials to help in controlling efflorescence in the porous construction materials. The aqueous coating composition includes a binder having an acrylic polymer in an acrylic polymer waterborne dispersion, wherein the acrylic polymer has a glass transition temperature (Tg) of 1° C. to 60° C.; and an alkoxy silane coalescing agent in a waterborne silane coalescing emulsion. The aqueous coating composition optionally further includes an additive selected from the group consisting of a pigment, a filler and combinations thereof. In one embodiment, the alkoxy silane coalescing agent provides the only coalescing agent for the acrylic polymer waterborne dispersion in the aqueous coating composition.

A process for manufacturing the composition coating may include selecting a wood or masonry material substrate and utilizing a sol-gel comprising a silane or silane derivative and metal oxide precursor to coat the substrate. The process may utilize an all solution process or controlled environment for manufacturing a composition coating that prevent wetting and/or staining of a substrate. The composition coatings for treating wood or masonry materials improves weather-resistance, microbial resistance, stain-resistance and fungal-resistance of the materials. The reduced permeability of the resulting masonry materials can also delay or inhibit degradation caused by permeation of ions such as chlorides and sulfates. In addition, a stain comprising the composite solution and pigments may impart additional property to wood or masonry materials whilst retaining or improving the original appearance, particularly for the visibility and contrast of the wood grain as seen after the application of the coating.

A superhydrophobic coating is provided and contains organosilane, an inorganic nanomaterial, and an emulsifying agent. A mass proportion of the components is controlled, so that the superhydrophobic coating can form a micro-nano mixed microstructure inside foam concrete. The organosilane first forms dense hydrophobic surface layers on the surface and in inner pores of the foam concrete, and the nanomaterial forms uniformly distributed nano-bulges on the hydrophobic surface layers formed by the silane. The superhydrophobic performance of the foam concrete can be effectively improved by combining the two microstructures. The foam concrete exhibits excellent superhydrophobic performance.

A superhydrophobic coating is provided and contains organosilane, an inorganic nanomaterial, and an emulsifying agent. A mass proportion of the components is controlled, so that the superhydrophobic coating can form a micro-nano mixed microstructure inside foam concrete. The organosilane first forms dense hydrophobic surface layers on the surface and in inner pores of the foam concrete, and the nanomaterial forms uniformly distributed nano-bulges on the hydrophobic surface layers formed by the silane. The superhydrophobic performance of the foam concrete can be effectively improved by combining the two microstructures. The foam concrete exhibits excellent superhydrophobic performance.

Methods of treating inorganic surfaces are provided. The methods include a step of applying an aqueous-based composition to the inorganic surface, in which the aqueous-based composition includes at least one transesterified alkoxy silane. The methods impart water resistance to the inorganic surface. After application, a treated inorganic surface may exhibit a long term water repellant property due to the formation of a hydrophobic layer upon drying of the aqueous-based composition

Methods of treating inorganic surfaces are provided. The methods include a step of applying an aqueous-based composition to the inorganic surface, in which the aqueous-based composition includes at least one transesterified alkoxy silane. The methods impart water resistance to the inorganic surface. After application, a treated inorganic surface may exhibit a long term water repellant property due to the formation of a hydrophobic layer upon drying of the aqueous-based composition

A magnesium-based fly ash porous sound-absorbing material with a surface hydrophobically modified, and a preparation method thereof are provided. In the preparation method, a basic magnesium sulfate cement is adopted as a cementing agent and a fly ash is adopted as a mineral admixture to prepare a slurry; foaming is conducted through a physical foaming process in a foaming machine to obtain a foam; and the foam is mixed with the slurry, and a resulting mixture is poured and cured, and then subjected to a surface hydrophobic modification through vapor deposition to obtain the sound-absorbing material. The sound-absorbing material has a density of 251 kg/m.sup.3 to 306 kg/m.sup.3, a noise reduction coefficient (NRC) of 0.65 to 0.7, a compressive strength of 1.8 MPa to 2.2 MPa, and a water contact angle of 129° to 151°.

According to the present disclosure, methods and techniques for generating preferred concrete block products are provided. The methods and techniques involve providing addition of color to selected section within the blocks, as described herein, to generate enhancement effects. Typical applications involve spray applications for color pigment to visually distinct sections of the block on one or more decorative surfaces.

According to the present disclosure, methods and techniques for generating preferred concrete block products are provided. The methods and techniques involve providing addition of color to selected section within the blocks, as described herein, to generate enhancement effects. Typical applications involve spray applications for color pigment to visually distinct sections of the block on one or more decorative surfaces.

A process for manufacturing the composition coating may include selecting a wood or masonry material substrate and utilizing a sol-gel comprising a silane or silane derivative and metal oxide precursor to coat the substrate. The process may utilize an all solution process or controlled environment for manufacturing a composition coating that prevent wetting and/or staining of a substrate. The composition coatings for treating wood or masonry materials improves weather-resistance, microbial resistance, stain-resistance and fungal-resistance of the materials. The reduced permeability of the resulting masonry materials can also delay or inhibit degradation caused by permeation of ions such as chlorides and sulfates. In addition, a stain comprising the composite solution and pigments may impart additional property to wood or masonry materials whilst retaining or improving the original appearance, particularly for the visibility and contrast of the wood grain as seen after the application of the coating.