The technology of coating sand grains with a special layer that protects them against water penetration was developed at the Faculty of Civil Engineering, Architecture and Environmental Engineering of the Lodz University of Technology.

Hydrophobized sand prevents from the penetration of water through sand and it does not mix with water. Dr. Eng. Patrycja Baryła from the Lodz University of Technology explains “the repulsive force between grains of sand and water is so large that the grains in the water form closed groups, so-called water cages “.

The main application of hydrophobized sand is to create layers of several dozen centimeters thick for protecting underground parts of buildings in areas where periodic increase of groundwater level is expected. In this application, the hydrophobized sand plays a dual role – it protects against water and transfers weight from the structure of the building. It can also be used to seal water reservoirs, dams, and also as a sealed layer of waste landfills.