It often begins inconspicuously on a façade: a small tag here, a quick marking there. But it rarely stops there. Especially in large cities, it can seem almost inevitable that unsightly graffiti will eventually cover building exteriors—to the frustration of property owners and managers, as these wall markings rarely offer artistic value. Instead, they quickly turn façade cleaning into a recurring maintenance issue that demands significant effort and additional costs.
No PFAS added
For years, some homeowners have therefore relied on special coatings or treatments such as Protectosil Antigraffiti. These are designed to simplify cleaning and protect the building fabric. Increasingly, property owners also want to avoid substances in building protection that are seen as environmentally or regulatorily critical. This is precisely where Evonik’s latest development comes in.
With Protectosil Eco‑Trete Antigraffiti, the company has developed a silane-based solution that does not rely on intentionally added per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) while still providing long-lasting protection for mineral surfaces. The key components are silanes—a group of silicon compounds that penetrate the façade surface and chemically bond with the substrate. As a result, their protective effect is durable and virtually invisible, without being washed away by the next rain shower. At the same time, the material’s natural breathability—whether concrete, natural stone, or brick—remains intact.
“In the past, façade protection was often approached in layers: apply, wash off, renew,” says Susanne Martens‑Kruck, Technical Marketing Manager Silanes in the Smart Effects business line. “Protectosil Antigraffiti operates on a fundamentally different principle. Our silane chemistry bonds directly with the mineral substrate. The protection becomes part of the surface, not just a coating on top of it.”
»The protection remains intact even after multiple cleaning cycles«
Susanne Martens-Kruck Technical Marketing Manager Silanes
Moisture can escape
In practice, this means that spray paints penetrate less deeply into the pores and can be washed off more easily—even repeatedly. “The protection remains intact even after multiple cleaning cycles—reducing maintenance effort and contributing to the long-term preservation of surface value,” Martens‑Kruck explains. At the same time, moisture can still escape, which is essential for preventing long-term damage.
Silane-based graffiti protection solutions have been used for years. What is new, however, is that the latest Protectosil variant completely avoids intentionally added fluorinated substances. For many users, this is not an absolute requirement, but it is a welcome advantage.
During development, eliminating fluorinated compounds was not a secondary consideration but the primary innovation goal. Because PFAS are still widely used in industrial processes today—such as in precursors or production equipment—it cannot yet be technically ruled out that traces may be present in industrial products. Nevertheless, deliberately moving away from their intentional use marks an important step.
With this new Protectosil formulation, Evonik is applying the proven performance of silanes to current sustainability requirements. Façade protection thus becomes another example of how innovation can help extend service life, conserve resources, and protect infrastructure over the long term.
