Silicones protect our cultural heritage from decay

There is widespread belief that stone decay is a recent problem linked to increasing pollution. But nothing is farther from the truth. The first attempts at preserving architectural and artistic heritage were made in the Middle Ages.

And we have come a long way since. In our modern world silicone coatings effectively protect thousands of restored buildings and historic monuments from the ravages of erosion. They restore the material to its original strength by penetrating the stone (through to the undamaged core) and reinforcing the natural mineral. This process does not compromise the physical characteristics of the stone nor its structure. Silicone applications are also applied uniformly so they do not streak or stain.

Silicone coatings preserve monuments as diverse as the formidable statues on Easter Island, the delicate Gothic carvings of City Hall in Bruges, the cornices of Munich's Alte Pinakothek, and the ancient palaces on the Capitol Hill in Rome and Tower Bridge in London. They are also used to make moulds of delicate ancient bas-reliefs and statues.