The Science Behind Super Hydrophobic Paint

A wall that has been painted with a standard masonry paint, water has nowhere to go. Instead of rolling off, it spreads across the surface and begins to absorb into the wall. This is because the contact angle is less than 90°, meaning the water flattens out rather than forming a bead. As it spreads, it increases its contact with the surface, allowing it to cling and absorb into the masonry.

With Emperor’s super hydrophobic masonry paint, the behaviour of water is completely different. The contact angle exceeds 150°, causing water to form a near-perfect bead on contact with the surface. With such minimal contact, the droplet can’t spread or settle, so it simply beads and rolls straight off the wall.

One of the most important differences with Emperor’s super hydrophobic technology is how it interacts with the surface itself.

Many standard masonry paints are typically acrylic-based, forming a layer that sits on top of the surface. While this can offer some level of water resistance, it can also trap moisture beneath the surface, leading to issues such as damp, cracking, or peeling paint over time.

Emperor’s silicone-based super hydrophobic masonry paint works completely differently. Instead of creating a layer over the surface, it chemically bonds with the substrate, becoming part of the surface itself. This allows the wall to breathe naturally and still lets moisture escape without becoming trapped.