# What is a good ultra-hyrdophobic chemical? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 25, 2001, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-good-ultra-hyrdophobic-chemical/66500 "2001-05-25T17:58:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mr.Zambezi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7cd45c/32.png) [@Mr.Zambezi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Zambezi)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2001, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-good-ultra-hyrdophobic-chemical/66500/1 "2001-05-25T17:58:27Z")
I am looking for an ultra hydrophobic chemical. preferably it will be something that can adhere well to tile or be mixed with something that will. And no, I am not doing anything illegal. ---
**Author:** ![Spritle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Spritle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spritle)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2001, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-good-ultra-hyrdophobic-chemical/66500/2 "2001-05-25T18:02:18Z")
I need a lot more info here. So far, I’m going with grout. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Zambezi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7cd45c/32.png) [@Mr.Zambezi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Zambezi)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2001, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-good-ultra-hyrdophobic-chemical/66500/3 "2001-05-25T18:39:34Z")
As I stated before, I am not trying to be mysterious, I am just protecting my invention. That said, I am looking for a clear liquid. I will paint the liquid on tile, or linoleum, or wood…some smooth solid surface. So the liquid should be soluble in epoxy or tile sealer or something like that or perhaps adhesive itself. It should repel water like crazy so that if water is poured on the surface, any treated areas will remain water free 9and I am talking about areas no more than 4 mm wide surounded by untreated areas.) I know of a product called rainX that may be of use, but I really need to me able to isolate the active ingredient. Spritle, if you care to help me with a few other problems, I could sure use it. you can e-mail me at [lmntarysolutions@yahoo.com](mailto:lmntarysolutions@yahoo.com) (I know that it is bad netiquette to uncloak, but this is an anonymous e-mail address.) Since I get yelled at for posting more than one thread at a time, I also need to figure out hoe to anchor one end of a pH indicator to a surface while the ion receptor remains free. ---
**Author:** ![MikeG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mikeg/32/4329_2.png) [@MikeG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeG)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2001, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-good-ultra-hyrdophobic-chemical/66500/4 "2001-05-25T18:39:49Z")
Yeah, what is the application? Are you trying to seal ceramic tile,porcelain, glazed, or some other tile from external moisture or from back moisture? Does it need to be attractive or are you instead trying to increase the waterproof qualities of an adhesive or grout? Be warned that that will most likely not work…been there done that…replaced the job for the engineer client who thought he was being clever 😉 Info, please… ---
**Author:** ![honkytonkwillie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3da27b/32.png) [@honkytonkwillie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/honkytonkwillie)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2001, 6:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-good-ultra-hyrdophobic-chemical/66500/5 "2001-05-26T06:46:35Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mr.Zambezi \* > **I know of a product called rainX that may be of use, but I really need to me able to isolate the active ingredient.** Dichlorodimethylsilane. Si(CH[sub]3[/sub])[sub]2[/sub]Cl[sub]2[/sub]. You should be able to get it through Fisher Scientific or VWR. You’re trying to come up with something to mix with grout so it stays dry, doesn’t grow mold and mildew, and you never have to clean it. Right? ---
**Author:** ![Chas.E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e99b99/32.png) [@Chas.E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chas.E)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2001, 6:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-good-ultra-hyrdophobic-chemical/66500/6 "2001-05-26T06:54:35Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mr.Zambezi \* > \*\*As I stated before, I am not trying to be mysterious, I am just protecting my invention. \*\* Sounds more like you’re asking for someone else to INVENT your invention. ---
**Author:** ![Napier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2001, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-good-ultra-hyrdophobic-chemical/66500/7 "2001-05-26T12:38:29Z")
Along the “invent your invention” line of questioning, I could offer some compounds, but if you want to protect grout your real list of requirements is pretty long. For example, if you just incidentally throw in the requirement that the sought after chemical mixes with epoxy, well, that screws it right there. Things are extremely hydrophobic if they are very difficult to mix with water, and generally such substances are very difficult to mix with epoxy too. If you want an easily available compound that is extremely hydrophobic, the fluorinated organic oils that 3M sells as “Scotchguard” would be pretty good. But they won’t mix with epoxy. Of course, you might get them to if you also bought 3M Fluorad surfactants and used them as emulsifiers. But then that runs into the problem that 3M is getting out of some of these businesses for environmental reasons. BTW I don’t work for 3M. Also, it’s pretty tough to keep a surface hydrophobic, because other things will eventyally stick to it and make a new surface that’s not so special any more. Bacteria, for instance, have evolved all sorts of mechanisms for populating new niches in their environments. ---
**Author:** ![August\_West](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/august_west/32/18069_2.png) [@August\_West](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/August_West)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2001, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-good-ultra-hyrdophobic-chemical/66500/8 "2001-05-26T12:42:44Z")
WD-40 repels water pretty damn well, although I can’t vouch for it’s effectiveness when mixed with other substances. It seems you’ve got the 1% inspiration, now comes the 99% perspiration. Good luck! ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Zambezi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7cd45c/32.png) [@Mr.Zambezi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Zambezi)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2001, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-good-ultra-hyrdophobic-chemical/66500/9 "2001-05-29T21:57:19Z")
I am not asking anyone to invent the invention. It has nothing to do with tile or grout or bacteria. In fact, the hydrophobic chemical is a very small ancillary part of it. But, If I told you what I was doing, I would be revealing the idea, ergo giving away the concept. Let me put it this way. The substance I am looking for shoule be something that you could wwrite your name with and then if it pours rain, on the surface, you could see your name repelling the water. So you could paint it on wood or tile or steel. It really wouldn’t matter. ---
**Author:** ![honkytonkwillie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3da27b/32.png) [@honkytonkwillie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/honkytonkwillie)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2001, 8:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-good-ultra-hyrdophobic-chemical/66500/10 "2001-05-30T08:29:02Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mr.Zambezi \* > \*\*Let me put it this way. The substance I am looking for shoule be something that you could wwrite your name with and then if it pours rain, on the surface, you could see your name repelling the water. So you could paint it on wood or tile or steel. It really wouldn’t matter. \*\* Like I said - dichlorodimethylsilane. It sticks to glass really well. Or take Napier’s Scotchguard suggestion. You can get them both at Walmart. Time to start the pilot scale testing. Let us know how it goes. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Zambezi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7cd45c/32.png) [@Mr.Zambezi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Zambezi)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2001, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-good-ultra-hyrdophobic-chemical/66500/11 "2001-05-30T16:34:48Z")
MAny thanks. I will let you know how it goes. ---
**Author:** ![TwistofFate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@TwistofFate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwistofFate)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2001, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-good-ultra-hyrdophobic-chemical/66500/12 "2001-05-30T16:53:26Z")
How about the pseudo halogenic compound, Syanogen? :: D&R :: ---
**Author:** ![Inky\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/7feea3/32.png) [@Inky\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inky_1)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2001, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-good-ultra-hyrdophobic-chemical/66500/13 "2001-05-30T22:49:40Z")
> [@](#): > > **–I am looking for a clear liquid. I will paint the liquid on tile, or linoleum, or wood…some smooth solid surface. So the liquid should be soluble in epoxy or tile sealer or something like that or perhaps adhesive itself. It should repel water like crazy so that if water is poured on the surface…** Well, if you find something like this tell me, I’ve been looking for something like this to keep my mirror from fogging up in the morning when I’m shaving. ---
**Author:** ![Finagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2001, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-good-ultra-hyrdophobic-chemical/66500/14 "2001-05-30T23:00:02Z")
Sounds like you’re trying to do something like a resist for etching. Any reason why paraffin wax wouldn’t work? You don’t have to go too hot to get it liquid.